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 84 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Fat Freejuly 4th1x1.9 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Tropical Fat Free1x2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — Newman's Own, Pasta Sauce, Sweet Onion, Roasted Garlic
Tomato, Citric Acid, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Soybean, Olive, Grape, Yeast (Brewer's)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Garlic Hummus, Garlic
Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods France — Maille, Dijon Style Mustard
Mustard, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Nonfat Blended Greek Yogurt Yogurt
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cocoa, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Cherry Juice Cocktail
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cherry, Grape, Apple, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Bj's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — Juice Cocktail Blend From Concentrate
Cane Sugar, Beet, Cranberry, Cherry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Icy Charge Crisp & Cool Thirst Quencher, Icy Charge
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Choice Cut Diced Tomatoes with Roasted Garlic, 14.5 Oz
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Sesame, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
KRAFT HEINZ BEVERAGES & SNACK NUTS — CITRUS GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Oui By Yoplait French Style Yogurt Petites Caramelized Apple 2-pack
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Watermelon Fat Free24x5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Tribe, Mediterranean Olive Hummus
Olive, Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIPTON, SPARKLING ICED TEA
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Mercantile — Potion Apples Gummies
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Fructose, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Dannon, Activia, Nonfat Yogurt, Key Lime
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Corn, Lime, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
J & B Wholesale Distributing Inc. — Salmon Fillets
Salmon, Canola/Rapeseed, Olive, Garlic, Paprika, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Tea & Honey Liquid Iced Tea Mix
Honey, Glycerin/Glycerol, Tea, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Carrot
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Del Monte, Sunfresh, Red Grapefruit in Water
Grapefruit, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Sweet Iced Tea Mix
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, Lemon
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lawry's — Salt Free Southwest Sweet & Smoky Seasoning
Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Lipton — Sweetened Iced Green Tea Mix
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Preferred Wholesale, Inc. — Beef Deli Sticks
Beef, Corn, Fructose, MSG, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Original Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Drink From Concentrate, Original Ruby Red Grapefruit
Grapefruit, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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