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 81 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — LOWFAT YOGURT DRINK
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ORANGE THIRST QUENCHER, ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — KOOL-AID, TROPICAL PUNCH DRINK MIX
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — GREEN TEA, MIXED BERRY
Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DELI DELUXE PASTEURIZED PROCESS AMERICAN CHEESE, AMERICAN
American Cheese, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — SPREADABLE FRUIT, ORANGE
Orange, Grape, Apple, Pear, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Tortilla Factory Inc — HANDMADE STYLE TORTILLAS
Wheat, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SHREDDED MOZZAMELT IMITATION MOZZARELLA CHEESE, MOZZAMELT
Cow's Milk, Whey, Citric Acid, Potato, Corn
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MANGO CITRUS LIGHTLY CARBONATED FLAVORED SODA, MANGO CITRUS
Mango, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — REDBERRY JUICY GELS, REDBERRY
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — SOFT FROZEN LEMONADE, LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SNACK PACK, GEL SNACKS, TROPICAL FRUIT, TROPICAL FRUIT
Cane Sugar, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
5 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Sloppy Joes Seasoning Mix
Cane Sugar, Onion, Corn, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Citric Acid, Solanine, Capsaicin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHERRY FLAVORED SPARKLING DRINK, CHERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE NATURALLY SWEETENED DRINK MIX, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Lemon, Strawberry, Turmeric, Beet
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Farmstand Orange Pineapple 100% Fruit And Vegetable 46 Fluid Ounce Plastic Bottle
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — CRANBERRY WATERMELON JUICE DRINK FROM CONCENTRATE, CRANBERRY WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Grape, Watermelon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Natural Cane Soda, Kiwi Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — SEA SALT & VINEGAR ALMONDS, SEA SALT & VINEGAR
Almond, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ASSORTED FRUIT ORGANIC SNACKS, ASSORTED FRUIT
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — WILD BERRIES MESSAGE HEARTS & RINGS GUMMIES CANDY, WILD BERRIES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Paw Patrol 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Victoria Fine Foods LLC — VICTORIA, MEDITERRANEAN SUN DRIED TOMATOES WITH PURE OLIVE OIL
Tomato, Canola/Rapeseed, Olive, Grape, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — TRADITIONAL HUMMUS
Sunflower, Olive, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic, Cumin
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORANGE SORBET BARS, ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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