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 303 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — JUICE DRINK BLEND VARIETY PACK, FRUIT PUNCH, STRAWBERRY KIWI, PACIFIC COOLER
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberry, Pear, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — PEACH RASPBERRY FRUIT & YOGURT SMOOTHIES, PEACH RASPBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Corn, Carrageenan, Peach, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Carob
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — DUTCH PUFFY PANCAKE BITES, DUTCH
Egg White, Egg Yolk, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Sunflower, Rice, Vanilla, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL LEMON, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE 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 |
|
BLAZIN' BLUEBERRY FLAVORED FRUIT DRINK
Fructose, Corn, Apple, Blueberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CARNE ASADA STREET TACO SEASONING MIX
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cumin, Oregano, Onion, Garlic, Potato, Citric Acid, Lime
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Fruit by the Foot Gluten-Free Fruit Snacks Variety Pack (12 Count)
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SALSA TAQUERA, HOT
Tomato, Chili Pepper, Onion, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — GARLIC, CILANTRO & CUMIN MEXICAN TACO TRUCK SEASONING, MEXICAN TACO TRUCK
Cumin, Chili Pepper, Oregano, Garlic, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Lime, Rice, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — ANGUS BEEF NO BEANS CHILI, ANGUS BEEF
Beef, Tomato, Corn, Chili Pepper, Soybean, Oat, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SIGNATURE STEAKHOUSE WITH GARLIC, ONION & RED BELL PEPPER 15 MIN MARINADE, SIGNATURE STEAKHOUSE WITH GARLIC, ONION & RED BELL PEPPER
Cane Sugar, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars Chocolate North America LLC — 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 |
|
PB&J BITES PEANUT BUTTER SNACKS
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Canola/Rapeseed, Wheat, Corn, Grape, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE FLAVORED CHEEZ BALLS SNACKS, WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE
Corn, Canola, Safflower, Soybean, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, MSG, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — STRAWBERRY WATERMELON MAX BUBBLE GUM, STRAWBERRY WATERMELON
Cane Sugar, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC — 3 CITRUS GARLIC MARINADE WITH CILANTRO, 3 CITRUS GARLIC WITH CILANTRO
Cane Sugar, Garlic, Lemon, Orange, Lime, Onion, Coriander/Cilantro, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — LIGHTLY SEASONED CRISPY POTATO SLICES, ROASTED GARLIC & HERB
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Garlic, Onion, Whey, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — MULLER CORNER GREEK HONEYED APRICOT 5.3Z
Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Whey, Corn, Apricot, Honey, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — BERRY MAPLE GLUTEN FREE BREAKFAST BARS, BERRY MAPLE
Oat, Rice, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Maple Sugar, Apple, Cranberry, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup, 23.2 Ounce Can
Tomato, Corn, Fructose, Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Citric Acid, Celery, Garlic
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
COOKIE BUTTER PREMIUM ICE CREAM
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cinnamon, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NON FAT YOGURT, LIGHT STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Corn, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GOOD & GATHER — HONEY BARBECUE SAUCE, HONEY
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Honey, Corn, Mustard, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — POLAR ICE CHEWY MINTS, POLAR ICE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CRACKED PEPPER
Sunflower, Black Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, MSG, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Corn
|
9 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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