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 312 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Frito-Lay Company — AIR POPPED POPCORN, CHIPOTLE AGED CHEDDAR
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Whey, Cow's Milk, Chili Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. — STRAWBERRY FROZEN YOGURT BARS, STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Lemon, Corn, Whey, Tapioca, Carob, Citric Acid, Carrageenan, Yogurt
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MINIATURES, WHITE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — KICKIN' KOREAN BBQ SAUCE, KICKIN' KOREAN
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Sesame, Onion, Citric Acid, Ginger, Benzoic Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
USA VICTORIA PERFUME CO., LTD — ROASTED MEDITERRANEAN
Almond, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, Oregano, Thyme, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's)
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — LEMON BUTTER GARLIC INJECTABLE MARINADE, LEMON BUTTER GARLIC
Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Corn, Garlic, Lemon, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Turmeric, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — BACON EGGS, POTATOES, BACON & CHEDDAR CHEESE BREAKFAST BOWL, BACON
Potato, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Pork, Cow's Milk, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, Inc. — GLUCOSE CONTROL BALANCED NUTRITIONAL DRINK, CREAMY STRAWBERRY, CREAMY STRAWBERRY
Cow's Milk, Tapioca, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Fructose, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Citric Acid, Carrageenan, FD&C Red #3
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — WHITE EGGS CANDY, PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Safflower, Cow's Milk, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — JUICE BEVERAGE, APPLE MEDLEY
Corn, Fructose, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Apple, Cherry, Pear, Raspberry, Strawberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Biscuit Company — JALAPENO & LIME FLAVOR GLUTEN FREE CORN & RICE SNACKS, JALAPENO & LIME
Corn, Rice, Safflower, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Parsley, Garlic, Lime
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CHERRY POMEGRANATE LIGHTLY CARBONATED CITRUS FLAVORED SODA, CHERRY POMEGRANATE
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Orange, Cherry, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
VERY BERRY GUMMIES CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Coconut
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SALT-FREE 17 SEASONING
Black Pepper, Celery, Turmeric, Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Citric Acid, Sesame, Orange, Corn, Lemon
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — DAVID, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, BAR-B-Q, DAVID, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, BAR-B-Q
Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, MSG, Garlic, Tomato, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika, Citric Acid, Soybean
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — MEDIUM SMOKY CHIPOTLE TACO SEASONING MIX, MEDIUM SMOKY CHIPOTLE TACO
Chili Pepper, Paprika, Cumin, Oregano, Garlic, Onion, Cane Sugar, Corn, Tomato, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands, Inc. — CHEF BOYARDEE, RIGATONI, MACARONI IN TOMATO & MEAT SAUCE, CHEF BOYARDEE, RIGATONI, MACARONI IN TOMATO & MEAT SAUCE
Tomato, Wheat, Beef, Fructose, Corn, Rice, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Onion, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsi-Cola North America Inc. — CHERRY POMEGRANATE LIGHTLY CARBONATED FLAVORED SODA, CHERRY POMEGRANATE
Fructose, Corn, Grape, Citric Acid, Orange, Cherry, Caffeine, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #1, Glycerin/Glycerol
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — PEPPERONI VEGAN VEGGIE PIZZA BITES, PEPPERONI
Wheat, Tomato, Soybean, Corn, Potato, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — FRUIT & NUT BARS, DARK CHOCOLATE, CHERRY WITH POMEGRANATE
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coumarin/Vanillin, Almond, Cherry, Corn, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — SPINACH & EGG WHITE PLANT-BASED PATTY FRITTATA SANDWICH, SPINACH & EGG WHITE
Egg White, Spinach, Onion, Soybean, Wheat, Sunflower, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Garlic
|
11 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Pacific Foods Organic Hearty Vegetable Soup
Tomato, Citric Acid, Carrot, Celery, Onion, Potato, Green Bean, Corn, Green Pea, Spinach, Garlic, Cane Sugar
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — CAMPBELL'S SIGNATURE FROZEN SOUP REDUCED SODIUM VEGAN VEGETABLE
Tomato, Carrot, Potato, Corn, Green Bean, Green Pea, Celery, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Pacific Foods Organic Harvest Black Bean Chili
Onion, Tomato, Citric Acid, Corn, Carrot, Solanine, Celery, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Cumin, Oregano
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Progresso Light Beef Pot Roast Gluten-Free Canned Soup
Beef, Carrot, Potato, Green Bean, Tomato, Corn, Cane Sugar, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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