Citric Acid in Grocery Products
Citric Acid is an MRT 176 panel substance found in 7,950 of the 20,682 products in our database. Here's every product we've analyzed that contains it.
7,950
Products Found
38.4%
Of All Products
210
Low Risk (0-2)
6,654
High Risk (5+)
Risk Distribution
How products containing Citric Acid break down by total trigger count:
210
2.6%
Low Risk (0-2 triggers)
1,086
13.7%
Moderate (3-4 triggers)
6,654
83.7%
High Risk (5+ triggers)
Citric acid is one of 27 chemical additives tested on the MRT 176 panel, and it is by far the most prevalent. We found it in 38% of all grocery products in our database — that’s nearly 8,000 items.
While citric acid occurs naturally in citrus fruits, the citric acid used in food manufacturing is almost exclusively produced through Aspergillus niger fermentation of corn sugar. This means manufactured citric acid may trigger reactions in people sensitive to corn as well as those sensitive to citric acid itself.
Citric acid is used as a preservative, pH adjuster, and flavor enhancer. It appears in beverages, canned goods, condiments, snacks, and even some fresh-cut produce. If citric acid is on your Red list, finding packaged food without it is one of the biggest challenges of the LEAP protocol.
Related Reading
- What Does “Natural Flavors” Actually Mean? — Citric acid is often hidden inside “natural flavors”
- Products with the fewest MRT triggers overall
All Products Containing Citric Acid — Page 59 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — LEMONADE THIRST QUENCHER, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — CRANBERRY, MANGO, GUAVA, ORANGE FLAVORED JUICE DRINK WITH 3 JUICES, CRANBERRY, MANGO, GUAVA, ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Mango, Orange, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Lemonade 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Blue Cherry 28 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — 100% MANGO PINEAPPLE JUICE BLEND, MANGO PINEAPPLE
Apple, Grape, Mango, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — OLIVE OIL 60% WHIPPED VEGETABLE OIL SPREAD, OLIVE OIL
Olive, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CITRUS NON-ALCOHOLIC MARGARITA MIX, CITRUS
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — LEMON LIME THIRST QUENCHER, LEMON LIME
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — THIRST QUENCHER, CRISP & COOL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — ICED BLACK TEA WITH LEMON
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S, GOURMET POPPING CORN, BUTTER, BUTTER
Corn, Cow's Milk, Turmeric, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, DRINK MIX, MOJITO, MOJITO
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY KIWI NATURALLY SWEETENED DRINK MIX, STRAWBERRY KIWI
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRINK MIX, CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SYRUP, BUTTER PECAN
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Pecan, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Dole 100% Juice Pineapple Orange Strawberry Juice 59 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Pineapple, Orange, Strawberry, Apple, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ORIGINAL SODA, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — BOAR'S HEAD, ROASTED PINE NUT HUMMUS
Sesame, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Strawberry Kiwi 100% Juice 15.2 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Apple, Grape, Pineapple, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — APPLES & CINNAMON INSTANT OATMEAL WITH FLAX SEEDS, APPLES & CINNAMON
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PEANUT BUTTER & STRAWBERRY JELLY STRIPES GOOBER, STRAWBERRY
Peanut, Strawberry, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — TROPICAL PUNCH ENERGY CHEWS, TROPICAL PUNCH
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrot, Sunflower
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE COOKIE MIX
Strawberry, Lemon, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — RED GARLIC CRUSHED RED JALAPENO & GARLIC SEASONING, RED GARLIC
Garlic, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CEASE FIRE ZERO CALORIE COLA, CEASE FIRE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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