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 299 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Frito-Lay Company — DILL PICKLE FLAVORED POTATO CHIPS, DILL PICKLE
Potato, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Dill, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Ready to Serve Brown Gravy, Rich and Flavorful Recipe, 50 Ounce Cans, 12-Pack
Beef, Wheat, Corn, MSG, Soybean, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NUMMY YUMMY BEARS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TERIYAKI CHICKEN SEASONING MIX, TERIYAKI CHICKEN
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Ginger, Sesame, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED DINOS SNACKS, ASSORTED FRUIT
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Carrot, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHILE PICANTE CON LIMON CRUNCHY CORN KERNELS, CHILE PICANTE CON LIMON
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — TRADITIONAL MUSHROOM PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL MUSHROOM
Tomato, Mushroom, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Austinuts Wholesale, Inc. — DRY ROASTED TEXAS BBQ PEANUTS, DRY ROASTED
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika, Corn, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's LLP — PEACH BELLINI FLAVORED MIX, PEACH BELLINI
Corn, Fructose, Peach, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FRUIT CHEWS, FRUITY SLUSHIES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER MINIATURES CUP, MILK CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol, Peanut, Corn, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TACO SPICES & SEASONINGS
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Onion, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Wheat, Cocoa, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Inc. — CREAMY VANILLA ADVANCED NUTRITIONAL DRINK, CREAMY VANILLA
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Inc. — VERY VANILLA FLAVOR HIGH PROTEIN BALANCED NUTRITIONAL DRINK, VERY VANILLA
Corn, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Soybean, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — LEMONADE, PINEAPPLE GINGER
Fructose, Corn, Lemon, Pineapple, Ginger, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — ORIGINAL TENDER SMOKED SAUSAGE MATCH STICKS, ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FRENCH'S, TERIYAKI MARINADE
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Grape, Corn, Garlic, Sesame, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — ORANGE CHERRY BANANA THE ORIGINAL DOUBLE POP ICE POPS, ORANGE, CHERRY, BANANA
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Beet, Orange, Cherry, Banana
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — TUSCAN CHICKEN & VEGETABLES ONE SKILLET SEASONING MIX
Garlic, Onion, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — TACO SEASONING MIX, ORIGINAL
Corn, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Haagen-Dazs Company, Inc. — AMARETTO BLACK CHERRY ALMOND TOFFEE NON-DAIRY FROZEN DESSERT, AMARETTO BLACK CHERRY ALMOND TOFFEE
Cane Sugar, Coconut, Corn, Cherry, Almond, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Safflower, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — TRADITIONAL FLAVORED WITH MEAT PASTA SAUCE, TRADITIONAL WITH MEAT
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Beef, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mott's LLP — MIXED BERRY
Apple, Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY-LEMON, STRAWBERRY-ORANGE, CHERRY-STRAWBERRY SWIRLERS CHEWY STICKS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED SHARKS SNACKS, ASSORTED FRUIT
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, Carrot, Coconut, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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