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 60 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
General Mills, Inc. — MACARONI & CHEESE, CLASSIC MILD CHEDDAR
Wheat, Whey, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOUR PATCH, SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, SOUR APPLE, SOUR APPLE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PINK LEMONADE FLAVORED SPARKLING DRINK, PINK LEMONADE
Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — BLACK CHERRY DRINK MIX PACKETS, BLACK CHERRY
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — JAMMERS GRAPE DRINK, GRAPE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Orange Thirst Quencher 64 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Lemon Lime (4 - 20 Fluid Ounce) 80 Fluid Ounce 4 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Glacier Freeze Thirst Quencher 64 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — OLIVE WITH RED BELL PEPPER CREAM CHEESE SPREAD, OLIVE WITH RED BELL PEPPER
Cow's Milk, Whey, Olive, Carob, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CALIENTE SPICY ARBOL PEPPERS WING & SAUCE, CALIENTE SPICY ARBOL PEPPERS
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SRIRACHA SEASONING, SRIRACHA
Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — NO SALT ADDED TOMATOES SAUCE
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — PEACH ICED TEA, PEACH
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — REDBERRY VIBES SUGAR FREE GUM, REDBERRY
Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — SPARKLING JUICE BEVERAGE
Grape, Apple, Cranberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Foods, LLC — SIMPLE FRUIT ENERGY FOOD
Apple, Strawberry, Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
NESTLE — STRAWBERRY POWDER, STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Beet, Carrageenan, Corn, Citric Acid
|
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 |
|
Sara Lee Foods — PEPPERONI MEBALLIONS SNACK PACK
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — REDHOT SWEET CHILI SAUCE, REDHOT SWEET CHILI
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — KOOL-AID, DRINK MIX, GREEN APPLE, GREEN APPLE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — ORIGINAL SYRUP, ORIGINAL
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Pecan, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — ARCTIC BERRY ENERGY DRINK, ARCTIC BERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Berry 12 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — WHITE AMERICAN DELI DELUXE PASTEURIZED PROCESS CHEESE, WHITE AMERICAN
American Cheese, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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