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 305 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, SMOKED SNACK STICK, ORIGINAL, SLIM JIM, SMOKED SNACK STICK, ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — LIVE WIRE COLA, ORANGE
Corn, Fructose, Orange, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Soybean
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — REESE'S, SNACK BITES
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Peanut, Corn, Sunflower, Safflower, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — WHITE CREME & PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKINS, WHITE CREME & PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SMOKED SNACK STICK, HABANERO
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PILLSBURY, GLUTEN FREE CLASSIC YELLOW PREMIUM CAKE MIX
Rice, Cane Sugar, Potato, Green Pea, Tapioca, Canola/Rapeseed, Cow's Milk, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — CRUNCHY COCONUT BUTTERFLY SHRIMP, CRUNCHY COCONUT
Shrimp, Wheat, Coconut, Sunflower, Corn, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Bugles Ranch CrnSncks
Corn, Coconut, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, MSG, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PEANUT BUTTER ENROBED IN WHITE CREME HEARTS,, PEANUT BUTTER ENROBED IN WHITE CREME
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — ASSORTED FRUIT FLAVORED SNACKS
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Beef, Pork
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CANDY KITCHEN CARAMELS, CARAMEL APPLE
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, SMOKED SNACK STICK, ORIGINAL, ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CREAMY HONEY CHIPOTLE MUSTARD SPREAD, CREAMY HONEY CHIPOTLE
Soybean, Mustard, Honey, Egg Yolk, Cane Sugar, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — CEREAL, STRAWBERRY CREAM
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Canola/Rapeseed, Barley, Malt, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — MERRY MIX STRAWBERRY BITIZEN, CHERRY CHEER FRUIT CHEWS, MERRY MIX
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Apple, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Blue #2
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SMOKED SNACK STICK, ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — JALAPENO & HONEY LEGENDARY BAR-B-Q SAUCE, JALAPENO & HONEY
Cane Sugar, Tomato, Honey, Chili Pepper, Corn, Mustard, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CREAMY SWEET APPLEWOOD MUSTARD SPREAD, CREAMY SWEET APPLEWOOD
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Mustard, Turmeric, Egg Yolk, Apple, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE TACO BLEND WITH LIME & ANCHO CHILLI SEASONING
Chili Pepper, Cumin, Oregano, Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Lime, Citric Acid, Rice, Sunflower
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MCCORMICK — CUBAN SEASONING, CUBAN
Garlic, Cumin, Oregano, Black Pepper, Onion, Cane Sugar, Orange, Lime, Citric Acid, Solanine
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRESSING
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Egg Yolk, Whey, Cow's Milk, Garlic, Onion, MSG, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands Inc — Slim Jim Original Deli Style Smoked Snack Stick, 1.8 Oz., 1.8 OZ
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — FLAMINGO BEACH RUBY COUVERTURE CHIPS MIXED WITH ROASTED & SALTED ALMONDS, DRY ROASTED & SALTED PISTACHIOS & SWEETENED DRIED CRANBERRIES TRAIL MIX, FLAMINGO BEACH
Almond, Pistachio, Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Sunflower
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — SOARING STRAWBERRY RUFF RUFF RASPBERRY BARKING BLUEBERRY ICE POPS, SOARING STRAWBERRY RUFF RUFF RASPBERRY BARKING BLUEBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — CREOLE BUTTER
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Benzoic Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Polysorbate 80
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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