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 87 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Tomato & Mushroom
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Mccormick, Gourmet, Recipe & Seasoning Mix, Bourbon Spiced Pork, with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Apples
Mustard, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Paprika, Cinnamon, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Barley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — SIERRA MIST, LEMON-LIME SODA, CRANBERRY SPASH, CRANBERRY SPASH
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Lemon, Lime, Cranberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — LIGHTLY SAUCED HONEY GLAZED CARROTS, LIGHTLY SAUCED
Carrot, Honey, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Califia Farms, Lp — Coconut Cream & Almondmilk
Almond, Coconut, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — STRAWBERRY LEMONADE FLAVORED SPARKLING DRINK, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — JUNGLE BUILD + EAT KIT GELATIN MIX, STRAWBERRY, BERRY BLUE
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PEACH MANGO GREEN TEA SUGAR FREE DRINK MIX, PEACH MANGO
Citric Acid, Aspartame, Tea, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — SWEETENED CAFFEINATED ICED TEA, SWEETENED
Fructose, Corn, Tea, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Biscuit Company — NABISCO, EASY CHHESE, CHEDDAR 'N BACON CHEESE SNACK, BECON, BECON
Whey, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Canola/Rapeseed, Pork, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — VALENTINE'S MIX HARD CANDY, CHERRY, PINEAPPLE, FRUIT PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-Van Camp — ARCTIC BLITZ CRISP & COOL THIRST QUENCHER, ARCTIC BLITZ
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — SEASONED PORK FOR FAJITAS, SEASONED PORK
Pork, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — GRAPE JUICY GELS, GRAPE
Cane Sugar, Grape, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — RASPBERRY ICED TEA DRINK MIX, RASPBERRY ICED TEA
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Tea, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — DICKINSON'S, LIME CURD
Cane Sugar, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Lime, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Sliced Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Organic Lemon Tahini Dressing
Sesame, Apple, Fructose, Soybean, Wheat, Lemon, Garlic, Parsley, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Rosemary
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — California Stewed Tomatoes
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Celery, Solanine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — Potato Chips
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Tropical Fruit in Light Syrup & Passion Fruit Juice
Pineapple, Papaya, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
H.j. Heinz Company — Tropical Fruit Smoothie
Cow's Milk, Pineapple, Yogurt, Mango, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Red Bull North America, Inc. — Peach-nectarine Flavored Energy Drink, Peach-nectarine
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi Lipton — Real Brewed Tea, Lemon
Tea, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Princess .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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