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 306 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
SKI — CHERRY LEMON ORANGE AUTHENTIC CITRUS SODA
Corn, Fructose, Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Caffeine, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SODA, LEMON-LIME, CHERRY, ORANGE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Lemon, Lime, Cherry, Orange
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — OLD EL PASO, SOUR CREAM SEASONING MIX, MILD, MILD
Corn, Cow's Milk, Onion, Whey, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc. — RASPBERRY, LEMON & ORANGE ORGANIC DELISHFISH ASSORTED MINIS CANDY, RASPBERRY, LEMON & ORANGE
Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Apple, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Lemon, Orange
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — VEGETABLE JUICE COCKTAIL, MINT & LIME
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol, Lime
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — PLANT BASED NUGGETS!
Green Pea, Wheat, Sunflower, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SMOKED SNACKS, ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PEANUT BUTTER ENROBED IN PINK CREME PINK HEARTS, PEANUT BUTTER ENROBED IN PINK CREME
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — WHITE CREME & PEANUT BUTTER EGGS, WHITE CREME & PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — FLAVORED JUICE BEVERAGE, TROPICAL BLEND
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Pineapple, Cherry, Mango, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
DIPPITY DOO DAH FRENCH ONION DIP
Cow's Milk, Whey, Corn, Onion, Cane Sugar, MSG, Garlic, Parsley, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — MTN DEW, LIVE WIRE, SODA, ORANGE, 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 — FILLED TWISTS, CARAMEL APPLE
Corn, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — PEANUT BUTTER WHITE PUMPKINS, PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SMOKED SNACK STICK
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — PREGO, VEGGIE SMART, CHUNKY & SAVORY ITALIAN SAUCE, CHUNKY & SAVORY, CHUNKY & SAVORY
Tomato, Cane Sugar, Onion, Chili Pepper, Zucchini, Carrot, Celery, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — CEREAL BARS
Oat, Wheat, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Lecithin (Soy), Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. — SPICY COCONUT CURRY SNACK MIX WITH CRANBERRIES, SPICY COCONUT CURRY CRANBERRIES
Cranberry, Cane Sugar, Coconut, Cashew, Peanut, Sunflower, Turmeric, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ZESTY ITALIAN FLAVOR INFUSER
Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Citric Acid, Basil, Oregano, Chili Pepper, Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tony Chachere's Creole Foods of Opelousas Inc. — Tony Chachere's Butter Injectable Marinade 17 oz
Corn, Fructose, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Benzoic Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — NUTRITIONAL DRINK, RICH MILK CHOCOLATE, RICH MILK CHOCOLATE
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cocoa, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Carrageenan
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Wolfgang Puck Organic Free Range Chicken with White & Wild Rice Soup, 14.5 oz. Can
Chicken, Rice, Carrot, Celery, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Garlic, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — TROPICAL BLEND JUICE BEVERAGE WITH 5 JUICES AND MANGO PUREE FROM CONCENTRATE, TROPICAL BLEND
Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Grape, Pineapple, Cherry, Mango, Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — ORIGINAL FLAMIN' HOT BEEF JERKY, ORIGINAL
Beef, Cane Sugar, MSG, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — DRY ROASTED PEANUTS
Peanut, Corn, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, MSG, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Garlic, Celery, Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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