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 67 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PEANUT BUTTER & GRAPE JELLY STRIPES GOOBER, GRAPE
Peanut, Grape, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MILD THICK N' CHUNKY SALSA, MILD
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SMUCKER'S, JAM, BLACK RASPBERRY-BLACKBERRY, BLACK RASPBERRY-BLACKBERRY
Raspberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — LIME AGUAS FRESCAS ICED GREEN TEA MIX, LIME
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Honey
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Cranberry Cocktail 10 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — STRAWBERRY KIWI FLAVORED ELECTROLYTE BEVERAGE, STRAWBERRY KIWI
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — LIGHT FRUIT PUNCH
Pear, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — KOOL-AID, SINGLES, DRINK MIX, ORANGE, ORANGE
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SPREADABLE FRUIT, SEEDLESS STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Lemon, Grape, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LEMONADE NATURALLY SWEETENED DRINK MIX PITCHER PACKS, LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Turmeric
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Yoplait USA — GREEK 100 PROTEIN FAT FREE YOGURT
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange 32 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — PLUM STAGE2 BLENDS BABY FOOD PEACH APRICOT BANANA
Peach, Banana, Citric Acid, Apricot, Lemon
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ITALIAN DICED TOMATOES, ITALIAN
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company US — Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Cereal Bite Size Strawberry 21oz
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CARAMEL SUGAR FREE SUNDAE SYRUP, CARAMEL
Glycerin/Glycerol, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — FALL HARVEST CINNAMON APPLE PRESERVES
Apple, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Cinnamon
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Yoplait Smooth Strawberry Low Fat Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Ice Punch (6 - 12 Fl Oz) 72 Fluid Ounce 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Frost Glacier Freeze 128 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Russ Davis Wholesale — PICO DE GALLO SALSA, PICO DE GALLO
Tomato, Onion, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORGANIC STRAIGHT CUT FRIES
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Safflower, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — ALL-IN-ONE PREMIUM POPPING CORN, COCONUT OIL & SALT
Corn, Coconut, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — GRAPE ZERO SUGAR PROTEIN THIRST QUENCHER, GRAPE
Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP, PINEAPPLE
Pineapple, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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