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 95 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Fancy Bean Sprouts, 102 Oz
Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Paw Patrol .8oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Wild Cherry Cola 7.5 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Caffeine, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fresca Bottle, 2 Liters
Citric Acid, Grapefruit, Aspartame, Glycerin/Glycerol, Benzoic Acid, Carob
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Natural Confectionery Co. Candy Jelly Snakes
Corn, Cane Sugar, Beef, Citric Acid, Coconut, Orange, Lemon, Paprika, Turmeric
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dairylea Processed Cheese-spread Light
Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Whey
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Good Thins Crackers Brown Rice Thins Sea Salt and Black Pepper 1x3.500 Oz
Rice, Potato, Corn, Safflower, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Soybean, Sesame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Berry Soda Bottle, 1.25 Liters
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc. — Boar's Head, Genoa Salami
Pork, Beef, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods Company — Mixed Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms Llc — Wasabi Lime Mustard
Mustard, Apple, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Grape, Lime, Citric Acid, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PILLSBURY, EASY FROST, ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED FROSTING, VALENTINE'S VANILLA, VALENTINE'S VANILLA
Cane Sugar, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Fructose, FD&C Red #40, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING
Grape, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Hansen's, Natural Cane Soda, Kiwi, Strawberry
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Strawberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — ORIGINAL ORANGE GELATIN SNACKS, ORIGINAL ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LIME GELATIN DESSERT, LIME
Cane Sugar, Beef, Pork, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM SMOKED STICKS PORK SMOKED SAUSAGE, SPICY CHILI & GARLIC SEASONED
Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Celery, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. — Iced Tea
Cane Sugar, Tea, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Sabritas Salt And Lime Peanuts 7 Ounce Plastic Bag
Peanut, Corn, Soybean, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Lime
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SUGAR FREE LOW CALORIE JUICY GELS, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE
Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Orange
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Real Fruit & Instant Oatmeal, Blueberry & Cream Oatmeal
Blueberry, Wheat, Grape, Lemon, Citric Acid, Oat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Carrageenan
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — 5 FLAVORS GUMMIES CANDY, CHERRY, GREEN APPLE, STRAWBERRY, BLACKBERRY, WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Yellow Icing
Cane Sugar, Soybean, Corn, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — INTERNATIONAL CAPPUCCINO BEVERAGE MIX, TOASTED HAZELNUT
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Coffee, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Diet Blueberry Pomegranate Juice Drink with Another Juice
Blueberry, Grape, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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