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 79 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SPORTS DRINK WITH VITAMINS B3, B6 & B12, TWISTED BLACKBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — CHERRY PRESERVES, CHERRY
Cherry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SMUCKER'S, SIMPLY FRUIT, BLACK CHERRY SPREADABLE FRUIT
Cherry, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid, Fructose
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — ION4, ZERO CALORIE SPORTS DRINK, FRUIT PUNCH
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola Nestle Refreshments — DIET TEA
Tea, Aspartame, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — PEPPERONI
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PEPSICO, INC — RASPBERRY ICED TEA, RASPBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — MEXICAN SALSA, MILD
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Chili Pepper, Garlic
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — CASCADE CRASH CRISP & COOL THIRST QUENCHER, CASCADE CRASH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — CHERRY POMEGRANATE HABANERO SAUCE, CHERRY POMEGRANATE HABANERO
Cane Sugar, Cherry, Apple, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ORANGE RASPBERRY ELECTROLYTE WATER BEVERAGE MIX, ORANGE RASPBERRY
Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Orange, Raspberry
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SWEET CHILI SAUCE, SWEET CHILI
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Tapioca, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DRINK MIX, CHERRY
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SMUCKER'S, FRUIT HONEY, FRUIT SPREAD, STRAWBERRY JALAPENO, STRAWBERRY JALAPENO
Honey, Strawberry, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Baken-ets Chicarrones Salt and Vinegar Fried Pork Skins 2.5 Ounces
Pork, Corn, Cow's Milk, MSG, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — JALAPENO HATCH CHILE JAM, JALAPENO HATCH CHILE
Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Apple, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — STRAWBERRY-BLACKBERRY PRESERVES
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHERRY FLAVORED ZERO SUGAR DRINK, CHERRY
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Corn, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Tropical Cooler 32 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Gatorade Fierce Blue Cherry Thirst Quencher 20 Fluid Ounce Bottle
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Quaker Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack (10 - 1.51 Ounce) 15.1 Ounce 10 Count Paper Packets
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — DIET GRAPE CRANBERRY JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, CRANBERRY
Cranberry, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHERRY LIMEADE FLAVORED ENERGY LIQUID WATER ENHANCER, CHERRY LIMEADE
Citric Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, LLC — CHERRY FRUIT JUICE GELS, CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Grape, Cherry, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — COLA MINI
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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