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 94 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Kellogg Company — Strawberry Whole Grain Cereal, Strawberry
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Barilla G & R F.lli S.p.a. — Savory Tomato Sauce, Savory Tomato
Tomato, Onion, Cow's Milk, Basil, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — Candy Bar
Cane Sugar, Peanut, Corn, Coconut, Cow's Milk, Fructose, Cocoa, Glycerin/Glycerol, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Orville Redenbachers Sea Salt and Vinegar Popcorn, 6.49 Oz
Corn, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Immaculate Baking Pie Crusts 2 Count
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Rice, Whey, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Extreme Soft Candy Extreme Fat Free12x7.2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Sprite Bottle, 1.75 Liters
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Blackberry Lemonade Bottle, 18 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Gold Peak Diet Tea Bottle, 16.9 Fl Oz
Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Diced Tomatoes with the Flavors of Basil, Garlic & Oregano
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Oregano, Onion, Citric Acid, Basil
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — 365 Everyday Value, Cantina Style Salsa, Kick O' Jalapeno
Tomato, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin, Garlic, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tribe Mediterranean Foods, Inc. — Mediterranean Style Hummus
Sesame, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Citric Acid, Olive, Paprika, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Pink Lemonade Zerosugar Drink, Pink Lemonade
Lemon, Citric Acid, Grape, Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Aspartame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Fruit Pieces Disney Dory .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico, Inc. — Amp, Flavored Energy Drink, Watermelon, Watermelon
Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Act Ii Butter, 33.016 Oz
Corn, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Cola 8 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SLAMMIN SRIRACHA
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Roma Style Tomatoes Sauce with Natural Sea Salt
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Natural Cane Soda with Real Cane Sugar, Raspberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-Cola Company — BARRILITOS, SODA, TROPICAL PUNCH, TROPICAL PUNCH
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes
Tomato, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 V-fusion Beverage Orange Pineapple
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Tea
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Glacier Freeze Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Concentrate
Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — Chili Mac & Cheeze Made with Organic Rice Pasta, Tomatoes & Beans, Chili Mac & Cheeze
Rice, Tapioca, Safflower, Coconut, Yeast (Baker's), Green Pea, Citric Acid, Kidney Bean, Onion, Soybean, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Paprika
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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