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 98 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands — Hickory Peach BBQ Smoked Shorty Sausages, Hickory Peach BBQ
Pork, Peach, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Celery, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic, Beef
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co./gatorade-van Camp — Orange + Tropical Fruit Bold & Intense Thirst Quencher, Orange + Tropical Fruit
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Orange Soda Bottle, 20 Fl Oz
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Milk Chocolate Frosting
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Mac and Cheese Variety Pack 12 Count
Wheat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Corn, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Watermelon Soft Candy Watermelon Fat Free8x8 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Fanta Grape Soda Can, 12 Fl Oz
Fructose, Corn, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Coca-cola Company-0049000000016 — Hubert's Lemonade Strawberry Bottle, 18 Fl Oz
Lemon, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
La Victoria Foods Inc. — Thick N Chunky Salsa Verde
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Onion, Garlic, Benzoic Acid, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Napoleon Co. — Napoleon, Garlic Cloves
Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Cia. Topo Chico, S.a. — Topo Sabores, Artificially Flavored Soda, Peach
Fructose, Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The King Arthur Flour Company, Inc. — Lemon Bar Mix
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Lemon, Citric Acid, Malt, Barley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's LLP — MARGARITA MIX
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Fajitas Spices & Seasonings Mix, Fajitas
Corn, Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Garlic, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy)
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Chop Suey Vegetables, 102 Oz
Celery, Onion, Mushroom, Solanine, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Swedish Fish Soft Candy Berry Fat Free12x10.2 Oz
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — DAZZLE BERRY, BLUE RASPBERRY & TROPICAL FRUIT FLAVORED UNICORN FRUITY SNACKS, DAZZLE BERRY, BLUE RASPBERRY & TROPICAL FRUIT
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ritz Crisp & Thin Crackers Cheese and Onion
Potato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Corn, Sunflower, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Oat, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dole Packaged Foods, Llc — Dole, Mixed Fruit in 100% Fruit Juice
Grape, Pineapple, Peach, Pear, Apple, Lemon, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — Ocean Spray, Juice Drink, Cran-grape
Grape, Cane Sugar, Beef, Cranberry, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Monster Energy Company — Peace Tea, Georgia Tea, Peach
Tea, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Allens, Hoppin' John with Blackeye Peas, Tomatoes, Onions & Jalapenos
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Assi — Sac Sac Fruit Juice
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mccormick & Company, Inc. — Propel, Water Beverage with Vitamins, Zero Calories, Cranberry Lime
Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Fruit Juice Blend
Apple, Grape, Blueberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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