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 309 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — SIGNATURE BBQ FLAVORED GOURMET POPCORN, BBQ
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — OATMEAL, APPLE CINNAMON ALMOND
Oat, Cane Sugar, Apple, Almond, Barley, Rye, Cranberry, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport) — VANILLA CREME GENUINE NON DAIRY PROTEIN SHAKE, VANILLA CREME
Cow's Milk, Whey, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — WALNUT BROWNIE MIX, WALNUT
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Barley, Malt, Walnut, Cocoa, Soybean, Corn, Egg White, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Terraform, Inc. — MANGO CHAMOY & CHILI POWDER, MANGO CHAMOY & CHILI
Mango, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Lime, Benzoic Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — SEASONED STEAMERS MEDITERRANEAN BLEND
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Carrot, Olive, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Corn, Onion, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Near East Couscous Wild Mushroom & Herb Couscous Mix 5.4 Ounce Paper Box
Wheat, Onion, Mushroom, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Parsley, Soybean, Celery, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — ORGANIC SALSA CON QUESO, CON QUESO
Tomato, Onion, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Chili Pepper, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation — LIGHTLY BREADED CHICKEN BREAST SPICY FILLETS, LIGHTLY BREADED
Chicken, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Corn, Garlic, Onion, Paprika, Rice, Yeast (Baker's)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MEXICALI CILANTRO LIME WING & SAUCE, MEXICALI CILANTRO LIME
Cumin, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Oregano, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Corn, Lime, Cane Sugar
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — FRUITY SLUSHIES STRAWBERRY LEMONADE CHILL, CHERRY SPLASH, BLUE RASPBERRY RUSH & CITRUS SLUSH FRUIT CHEWS, FRUITY SLUSHIES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Red #3, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — VERY BERRY JELLY BEANS, STRAWBERRY, RASPBERRY, BLACKBERRY & BLUEBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
British Wholesale Imports, Inc. — THICK CUT HAND COOKED POTATO CHIPS, RICH CHILI
Potato, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — QUESO DIP SEASONING MIX, QUESO DIP
Corn, Onion, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Turmeric, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MAXWELL HOUSE, CAPPUCCINO, CINNAMON DULCE, CINNAMON DULCE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Coconut, Coffee, Cinnamon, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Carrageenan
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CRANBERRY ALMOND FLAVORED PROTEIN INSTANT OATMEAL, CRANBERRY ALMOND
Oat, Whey, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Cane Sugar, Cranberry, Sunflower, Almond, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — NON FAT YOGURT, LIGHT STRAWBERRY BANANA
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Strawberry, Banana, Corn, Fructose, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SEA SALT & CRACKED PEPPER FLAVORED KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SEA SALT & CRACKED PEPPER
Potato, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Black Pepper, Whey, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER EGGS
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Corn, Sunflower, Safflower, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT PATTIES EGGS, DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Mint/Menthol, Egg White, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Campbell's SpaghettiOs Organic Original, 15.8 oz.
Wheat, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Sunflower, Onion, Citric Acid, Paprika, Garlic, Celery
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SLOW COOKER BREAKFAST SEASONING MIX
Onion, Black Pepper, Thyme, Sage, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Sunflower, Corn
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT PATTIES PUMKINS, DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT PATTIES
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Mint/Menthol, Egg White, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT PATTIES, DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT
Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Mint/Menthol, Egg White, Citric Acid
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Old El Paso Gluten-Free Crunchy Taco Shells Dinner Kit 12 Count
Corn, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Tomato, Cane Sugar
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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