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 310 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — PREMIUM SMOKED STICKS, SMOKEHOUSE ORIGINAL
Beef, Pork, Chicken, Soybean, Corn, Paprika, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy)
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — PEA CUP A SOUP, PEA
Green Pea, Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Sunflower, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Spinach
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Food Company — SPICY CAJUN PISTACHIO KERNELS, SPICY CAJUN
Pistachio, Peanut, Celery, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Mustard
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — TROPICAL POPS, NANA BANANA, PASSIONFRUIT ORANGE GUAVA, BERRY BANANA, AND STRAWBERRY KIWI
Fructose, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, Banana, Orange, Strawberry
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED PEPPERMINT PATTIES HEARTS, DARK CHOCOLATE
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 — V8 SPLASH BEVERAGE ORANGE STRAWBERRY
Fructose, Corn, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — BERRY BLEND
Corn, Fructose, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
10 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Haagen-Dazs Company, Inc. — RUBY CACAO CRACKLE PISTACHIO & SWEET CREAM ICE CREAM, RUBY CACAO CRACKLE
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Pistachio, Safflower, Egg Yolk, Coconut, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Vanilla
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — SWEET MESQUITE BARBEQUE KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SWEET MESQUITE BARBEQUE
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Old El Paso Stand 'N Stuff Bold Ranch Flavored Taco Shells 10 Count
Corn, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Whey, Citric Acid, MSG, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — VEGETABLE CLASSICS LENTIL SOUP
Lentil, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Spinach, Onion, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — BUTTERY GARLIC & HERB RUB, BUTTERY GARLIC & HERB
Garlic, Cane Sugar, Onion, Corn, Cow's Milk, Rice, Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — CARAMELIZED ONION BUTTER SEASONING, CARAMELIZED ONION BUTTER
Onion, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Black Pepper, Parsley, Corn, Rice, Turmeric
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — WHITE BEAN & ROASTED GARLIC SAUCE, WHITE BEAN & ROASTED GARLIC
Navy Bean, Garlic, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Olive, Cane Sugar, Egg Yolk, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Onion
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — VEGGIE PEPPERONI VEGAN PIZZA BITES, YEGGIE PEPPERONI
Wheat, Tomato, Soybean, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's)
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — CRISPY PLANT BASED FILLETS!, CRISPY
Soybean, Wheat, Sunflower, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Paprika, Turmeric, Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WELCH'S — NONFAT GREEK YOGURT
Grape, Pear, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Whey, Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — NATURE VALLEY, BREAKFAST BISCUITS, BLUEBERRY, BLUEBERRY
Oat, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Barley, Rye, Blueberry, Corn, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
KIND Inc. — FRUIT & NUT BARS
Cashew, Almond, Blueberry, Honey, Rice, Grape, Cane Sugar, Vanilla, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ITALIAN HERB, SWEET & TANGY, CITRUS HERB GRILLER'S CHOICE CHICKEN MARINADE MIX, ITALIAN HERB, SWEET & TANGY, CITRUS HERB
Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Corn, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Lemon, Orange, Chili Pepper
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — VEGGIE CHIK'N VEGAN NUGGETS, VEGGIE CHIK'N
Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez International, Inc. — SOFT & CHEWY CANDY WITH MINI ASSORTED EGGS, ASSORTED
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Cow's Milk, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Blue #2
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — PEPPERCORN RANCH DRESSING, PEPPERCORN RANCH
Soybean, Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Egg Yolk, Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, MSG, Benzoic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Sabritas Spicy Cacahuates Peanuts 1 5/8 Ounce Bag
Peanut, Soybean, Sunflower, Citric Acid, MSG, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, Blue #2
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mission Foods Inc — PORK RINDS, PICANTE
Pork, Chili Pepper, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, MSG, Tomato, Citric Acid, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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