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 69 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — FLAVORED DRINK, LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Perform Orange Thirst Quencher 11.6 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — CRANBERRY BLUEBERRY ACAI FLAVORED JUICE DRINK, CRANBERRY BLUEBERRY ACAI
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — INCA KOLA, THE GOLDEN KOLA, THE GOLDEN CARBONATED BEVERAGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DICED TOMATOES WITH GREEN CHILIES WITH LIME & CILANTRO, LIME & CILANTRO
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Lime, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — NONFAT YOGURT DRINK
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — PINE NUT HUMMUS
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SODA, CRAFTED DARK BERRY
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CLASSIC STEWED TOMATOES, CLASSIC
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Firece Strawberry Thrist Quencher 28 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade 02 Perform Thirst Quencher Fruit Punch 51 Ounce Instant Powder Mix Tin
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Fructose
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOUR BLUE RASPBERRY BUBBLE GUM, SOUR BLUE RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — 100% NATURAL TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ATHENOS, HUMMUS, ARTICHOKE & GARLIC, ARTICHOKE & GARLIC
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, DIET MIXED BERRY GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MANGO ZERO SUGAR SODA, MANGO
Aspartame, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, Mango
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Frost Rain Berry (8 - 20 Fluid Ounce) 160 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — TRADITIONAL PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — STRAWBERRY SYRUP, STRAWBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — BUNNY PASTA WITH YUMMY CHEESE, MACARONI & CHEESE
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
T.J. Kraft, Ltd. — CLAMS AND LEMON-GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE
Clam, Cow's Milk, Garlic, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — STRAWBERRY FLAVORED SUNDAE SYRUP, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSI SODA, 2 LITER, 4 COUNT
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — MARGARITA ENERGY CHEWS, MARGARITA
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Blue Cherry Thirst Quencher 32 Fluid Ounce Bottle.
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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