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 308 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, SAUSAGE BITES
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — KNOCKOUT CHOCOLATE NON DAIRY PROTEIN SHAKE, KNOCKOUT CHOCOLATE
Cow's Milk, Corn, Cocoa, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Fructose, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Carrageenan
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE BARS, STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Apple, Carrot, Citric Acid, Carob, Beet, Sweet Potato
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Newman's Own, Inc. — FRUIT FILLED COOKIES
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Raspberry, Apple, Corn, Tapioca, Safflower, Citric Acid, Honey, Rice
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
NESTLE DREYER'S ICE CREAM — FRUIT & CREAM BARS, CREAMY STRAWBERRY
Strawberry, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Tapioca, Lemon, Carob, Citric Acid, Beet, Turmeric
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — DRINK MIX, HALF LEMONADE & HALF ICED TEA
Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Tea, Aspartame, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SPRITE, LEMON-LIME SODA, CRANBERRY, CRANBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Lemon, Lime, Cherry, Orange
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — LEMON-LIME & GINGER FLAVORED SODA, LEMON-LIME & GINGER
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Lemon, Lime, Cherry, Orange
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ORIGINAL BLACKBERRY CREME
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Corn, Fructose, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
British Wholesale Imports, Inc. — VINTAGE CHEDDAR & GREEN ONION FLAVORED BRITISH HAND COOKED POTATO CHIPS, VINTAGE CHEDDAR & GREEN ONION
Potato, Sunflower, Whey, Onion, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — CRUNCHY CHICKPEAS, CHILE LIME
Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Lime, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's SpaghettiOs Organic A to Z's, 15.8 oz. Can
Wheat, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Sunflower, Onion, Citric Acid, Paprika, Garlic, Celery
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream — POPSICLE, ICE POPS, SUGAR FREE, NATURALLY FLAVORED ORANGE, NATURALLY AND ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED CHERRY AND GRAPE, LOW CALORIE
Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Cherry, Beet, Grape, Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SLIM JIM, SMOKED SNACK STICK, MILD, MILD
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN SEASONING MIX, LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN
Paprika, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Onion, Lemon, Chicken
|
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 |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SEASONING & STEAMING BAG SEAFOOD STEAMERS
Paprika, Celery, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
TURKEY HILL FRUIT PUNCH, ONE GALLON
Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Pear, Grape, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Coca-Cola USA Operations — SPRITE, 6 MIX BY LEBRON JAMES LEMON-LIME SODA, NATURAL CHERRY AND ORANGE, CHERRY AND ORANGE
Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Lemon, Lime, Cherry, Orange
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
MINUTE MAID BERRY PUNCH BOTTLE, 20 FL OZ
Corn, Fructose, Pear, Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The J.M. Smucker Company — PILLSBURY, CUPCAKE MIX, THIN MINTS
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Rosemary, Mint/Menthol
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — SMOOTHIE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cow's Milk, Canola/Rapeseed, Whey, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — TOMATO & MASCARPONE
Tomato, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Onion, Cane Sugar, Corn, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — TURKEY SMOKED SNACK STICK, HABANERO
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — THE TACO BLEND WITH LIME AND ANCHO CHILI SEASONING, LIME AND ANCHO CHILI
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Onion, Rice, Lime, Sunflower
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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