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 62 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MANGO COLA, MANGO
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SAN MARZANO STYLE GARLIC, OLIVE OIL & BASIL WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES, SAN MARZANO STYLE GARLIC, OLIVE OIL & BASIL
Tomato, Garlic, Olive, Basil, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GREEN TEA WITH GINSENG AND HONEY SUGAR SWEETENED DRINK MIX, GINSENG AND HONEY
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Honey, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PINEAPPLE TOPPING, PINEAPPLE
Pineapple, Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — FRUIT + COOL SUGAR FREE MINTS, STRAWBERRY
Aspartame, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — WATERMELON ZERO CALORIE DRINK MIX, WATERMELON
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — WICKED CITRUS DRINK MIX PACKETS, WICKED CITRUS
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange (6 - 12 Fluid Ounce) 72 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Lemon-Lime (6 - 12 Fl Oz) 72 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — GATORADE ALLSTAR STRAWBERRY 12Z12PK
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FRY MIX BUFFALO STYLE WING SAUCE
Corn, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
FLEISCHMANN'S — FLEISCHMANN'S, VEGETABLE OIL SPREAD
Soybean, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — 100% JUICE
Apple, Banana, Citric Acid, Orange, Pineapple
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ICED TEA
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — INSTANT OATMEAL, OGRE APPLE CINNAMON
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Tangerine Mandarina 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Glacier Freeze Thirst Quencher (8-20 Fluid Ounce) 160 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — STRAWBERRY BANANA FLAVORED SMOOTH STYLE ORIGINAL LOW FAT YOGURT, STRAWBERRY BANANA
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY JELLY BEANS, STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — COLA
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — CHILE LIME SEASONING, CHILE LIME
Chili Pepper, Lime, Citric Acid, Rice, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — ORANGE, STRAWBERRY SUGAR FREE JUICY GELS, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY
Aspartame, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Graham Packaging Company, L.P. — ORIGINAL ENGLISH MUSTARD
Mustard, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — CRAN-TROPICAL WITH CRANBERRY, MANGO, GUAVA, ORANGE FLAVORED JUICE DRINK WITH 3 JUICES FROM CONCENTRATE, CRAN-TROPICAL
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Mango, Orange, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — PINK LEMONADE FLAVORED DRINK MIX, PINK LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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