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 90 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LOW FAT YOGURT, ORIGINAL BLUEBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Blueberry, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Apple Soda Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Boar's Head, Sandwich Style Pepperoni
Pork, Beef, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Stewed Tomatoes Sliced with Mild Chili & Mexican Seasoning
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Chili Pepper, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid, Cumin, Coriander/Cilantro
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CRYSTAL LIGHT, LIQUID DRINK MIX, ICED TEA, ICED TEA
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Tea, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Bloks Energy Chews
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Red Tea, Pomegranate Passionfruit
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — Prego Sauces Garlic
Tomato, Onion, Olive, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Fruits Soft Candy Assorted Fruits Fat Free12x5 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hawaii Associated Wholesale — Orange Drink Syrup
Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Starbucks Coffee Company — Instant Beverage with Green Coffee Extract
Cane Sugar, Grape, Lime, Coffee, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Dannon Company, Inc. — Protein Smoothie Nonfat Yogurt Drink
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Whey, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — TROPICAL PUNCH FLAVORED SPARKLING DRINK, TROPICAL PUNCH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Blue Ribbon Pork Sausage
Pork, Corn, Cane Sugar, MSG, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
R. C. Bigelow, Inc. — Iced Tea
Cane Sugar, Tea, Lemon, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Waters North America Inc. — Nestea, Iced Tea, Peach
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Tea, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Minute Maid, Pink Lemonade Juice
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post — Shredded Wheat Cereal
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Splash Beverage Orange Pineapple
Fructose, Corn, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Roasted Garlic Hummus, Roasted Garlic
Canola/Rapeseed, Sesame, Garlic, Citric Acid, Olive, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Disney Frozen 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc — Grape Strawberry Splash Drink, Grape Strawberry
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Citric Acid, Grape, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunt's Tomato Sauce, 33.5 Oz, 33.5 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Citric Acid, Garlic, Chili Pepper
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Home Recipe Pop Up Bowl, 17.41 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Halls Defense Cough Drops Harvest Cherry 1x25.000 Pc
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Ginger, Sage, Thyme, FD&C Blue #1, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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