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 74 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — GUAVA STRAWBERRY ADVENTURES FLAVORED JUICE DRINK BLEND FROM CONCENTRATE, GUAVA STRAWBERRY
Cane Sugar, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — PEAR ACAI FLAVOR ENHANCER, PEAR ACAI
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, Pear
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — PINEAPPLE MANGO GREEN TEA, PINEAPPLE MANGO
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Pineapple, Mango
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY FLAVOR SYRUP, DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS, ROASTED RED PEPPER
Canola/Rapeseed, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic, Sesame
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LEMONADE FLAVORED JAMMERS DRINK, LEMONADE
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRINK, GRAPE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORANGE PINEAPPLE DRINK MIX, ORANGE PINEAPPLE
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MIST TWST, SPARKLING FLAVORED SODA, LEMON LIME, LEMON LIME
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — MANGO PINEAPPLE FLAVOR TEA & HONEY ICED GREEN TEA MIX TO GO PACKETS, MANGO PINEAPPLE
Cane Sugar, Honey, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Tropical Cooler (8-20 Fl Oz) 160 Fluid Ounce 8 Pack Plastic Bottles
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — WATERMELON LEMONADE LIQUID WATER ENHANCER, WATERMELON LEMONADE
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Watermelon, Lemon
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — BRISK, ICED TEA, LEMON, LEMON
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon, Tea
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — ARTICHOKE SPINACH HOMMUS, ARTICHOKE SPINACH
Sunflower, Sesame, Spinach, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Strawberry Lemonade Thirst Quncher 32 Fluid Ounce Bottle.
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — WILD CHERRY COLA, WILD CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ROOT BEER
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ITALIAN ESPRESSO STYLE COFFEE DRINK WITH MILK
Coffee, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Caffeine
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY KIWI GEL SNACKS, STRAWBERRY KIWI
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SPORTS DRINK WITH VITAMINS B3, B6 & B12, ORANGE
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — FRUIT ROLLS, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Cane Sugar, Pear, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOUR PATCH KIDS, SOFT & CHEWY CANDY, PEACH, PEACH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — TROPICAL PUNCH SOFT DRINK, TROPICAL PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — END ZONE BERRY FLAVORED THIRST QUENCHER, END ZONE BERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CHILE LIME HOT SAUCE, CHILI LIME
Chili Pepper, Garlic, Lime, Citric Acid, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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