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 66 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORANGE DRINK MIX, ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SMUCKER'S, APRICOT-PINEAPPLE PRESERVES
Apricot, Pineapple, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SNAPPIN' GREEN APPLE DRINK JAMMERS, SNAPPIN' GREEN APPLE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Berry (6 - 12 Fl Oz) 72 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — CITRUS SWISH FLAVORED THIRST QUENCHER, CITRUS SWISH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's LLP — PINEAPPLE BANANA FLAVORED APPLESAUCE & FIBER MIGHTY POUCHES, PINEAPPLE BANANA
Apple, Corn, Pineapple, Banana, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — TRIPLE BERRY FRUIT SPREAD, TRIPLE BERRY
Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — STEWED TOMATOES
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — THICK & CHUNKY SALSA MEDIUM
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — TIDAL PUNCH SMOOTH FINISH THIRST QUENCHER, TIDAL PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MAXWELL HOUSE, ICED COFFEE CONCENTRATE DRINK MIX, CARAMEL, CARAMEL
Cane Sugar, Coffee, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — ICED TEA, LEMON
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SPARKLING SODA, CRANBERRY LEMON LIME
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SODA, PINEAPPLE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — DASANI, DROPS, FLAVOR ENHANCER, CHERRY POMEGRANATE, CHERRY POMEGRANATE
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Cherry
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — RASPBERRY LEMONADE NATURALLY SWEETENED DRINK MIX, RASPBERRY LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Raspberry, Lemon
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Lemon Lime Thirst Quencher (12 - 12 Fluid Ounce) 144 Fluid Ounce 12 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Grape, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHEDDAMELT SHREDDED IMITATION CHEDDAR CHEESE, CHEDDAMELT
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Potato, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — APPLE RASPBERRY FLAVORED JUICE BASED SPORTS DRINK FROM CONCENTRATE, APPLE RASPBERRY
Apple, Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORGANIC NONFAT YOGURT, MANGO
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Mango, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — BUTTER 58% VEGETABLE OIL SPREAD, BUTTER
Soybean, Cow's Milk, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SEEDLESS STRAWBERRY JAM, STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — ENERGIZE PINEAPPLE JUICE WITH GREEN TEA EXTRACT JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, ENERGIZE
Pineapple, Apple, Grape, Tea, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — CITRUS SALAD IN EXTRA LIGHT SYRUP
Grapefruit, Orange, Cane Sugar, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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