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 302 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — INJECTABLE MARINADE, JALAPENO BUTTER
Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Soybean, Corn, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Paprika
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — FRUIT & VEGGIE BARS, BLUEBERRY MEDLEY
Blueberry, Beet, Carrot, Pear, Sweet Potato, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Citric Acid, Carob
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — AMERICA POP CHERRY, LEMON AND BLUE RASPBERRY GUM, AMERICA POP
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — LEMON ICED TEA DRINK MIX, LEMON ICED TEA
Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Tea, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — LOW CALORIE DRINK MIX, PEACH MANGO GREEN TEA
Citric Acid, Corn, Aspartame, Tea, Peach, Mango, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — BAR-B-Q CRISPY FRIED ONIONS, BAR-B-Q
Onion, Wheat, Corn, Paprika, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Tomato, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co/golden Grain — ROASTED GARLIC & OLIVE OIL FLAVOR COUSCOUS MIX, ROASTED GARLIC & OLIVE OIL
Wheat, Garlic, Onion, Olive, Parsley, Yeast (Baker's), Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SMOKY BASE BARBECUE SAUCE
Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Turmeric, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Biscuit Company — MEDITERRANEAN STYLE OLIVE CRACKERS, MEDITERRANEAN STYLE OLIVE
Wheat, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Onion, Celery, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Olive
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — ITALIAN SAUSAGE & GARLIC MEAT SAUCE, ITALIAN SAUSAGE & GARLIC
Tomato, Pork, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Beef, Onion, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — BEEF JERKY, SWEET CHIPOTLE, SPICY
Beef, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Honey, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FISH FRY MIX, LEMON PEPPER
Corn, Black Pepper, Celery, Turmeric, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Lemon, Cane Sugar
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — RUBY CACAO BLUEBERRIES, RUBY CACAO
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Vanilla, Blueberry, Sunflower
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY, GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, LEMON BITE SIZE CANDIES, STRAWBERRY, GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, LEMON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Blue #2
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — GREEN APPLE, LEMON & STRAWBERRY CANDY CANES, GREEN APPLE, LEMON & STRAWBERRY
Apple, Lemon, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co/golden Grain — MEDITERRANEAN CURRY COUSCOUS MIX, MEDITERRANEAN CURRY
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Turmeric, Soybean, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Tropicana Twister Cherry Berry Blast Juice Drink (6 - 10 Fluid Ounce) 60 Fluid Ounces 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Grape, Pineapple, Cherry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOUR GREEN APPLE GUM, SOUR GREEN APPLE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — MESSAGE HEARTS CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #3, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — BERRY CRUMBLE FLAVORED ORGANIC CEREAL, BERRY CRUMBLE
Oat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Soybean, Corn, Blueberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — LOW FAT SNACK, CHERRY, BLACK RASPBERRY STRAWBERRY
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING, BUTTERMILK RANCH
Canola/Rapeseed, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Egg Yolk, Garlic, Onion, Black Pepper, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ORGANIC OAT, CORN, AND RICE CEREAL, BERRY
Oat, Corn, Cane Sugar, Rice, Tapioca, Sunflower, Raspberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL CHERRY, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY & LEMON FRUIT CHEWS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — LOVE MIX WHITE GRAPE, STRAWBERRY, WATERMELON, YUMBERRY, CHERRY BITE SIZE CANDIES, LOVE MIX
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Blue #2
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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