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 313 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Haagen-Dazs Company, Inc. — SUMMER BERRY CAKE POP ICE CREAM, SUMMER BERRY CAKE POP
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Wheat, Strawberry, Raspberry, Coconut, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Corn, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — HINT OF LIME FOOTBALL SHAPED FLAVORED TORTILLA CHIPS, HINT OF LIME
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Lime, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — MIXED BERRY ALMOND FLAVORED WITH STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES & SLICED ALMONDS CEREAL, MIXED BERRY ALMOND
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Almond, Oat, Strawberry, Raspberry, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ZESTY HERB MARINADE MIX, ZESTY HERB
Garlic, Cane Sugar, Basil, Oregano, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Thyme, Onion, Citric Acid, Corn, Lemon, Solanine
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Blue Bell Creameries, Inc. — GRAPE, ORANGE, LIME AND CHERRY ASSORTED FLAVORED BULLETS BARS, GRAPE, ORANGE, LIME AND CHERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Grape, Orange, Lime, Cherry, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Turmeric
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — CHILE PICANTE CRUNCHY CORN KERNELS, CHILE PICANTE
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, MSG, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Tomato, Celery, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Near East Whole Grain Blends Chicken & Herb Rice 5.7 Ounce Paper Box
Rice, Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Soybean, Parsley, Chicken, Celery, Citric Acid, Turmeric
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nabisco Biscuit Company — MEDITERRANEAN STYLE OLIVE FLAVOR CRACKERS, MEDITERRANEAN STYLE OLIVE
Wheat, Canola/Rapeseed, Cane Sugar, Rice, Corn, Olive, Garlic, Onion, Celery, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — CHIKN NUGGETS PLANT-BASED NUGGETS, CHIK'N NUGGETS
Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Yeast (Baker's), Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — FRENCH'S, FLAVOR INFUSER, MARINADE, CARIBBEAN JERK, CARIBBEAN JERK
Fructose, Corn, Chili Pepper, Thyme, Onion, Garlic, Soybean, Wheat, Lime, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Solanine
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ORIGINAL GRAPE, LEMON, LIME, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE JELLY BEANS, ORIGINAL
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, Grape, Lemon, Lime, Strawberry, Orange
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — STRAWBERRY BANANA ORGANIC FRUIT SMOOTHIE FILLED ENERGY BARS, STRAWBERRY BANANA
Cashew, Sunflower, Oat, Rice, Cane Sugar, Green Pea, Tapioca, Glycerin/Glycerol, Strawberry, Banana, Citric Acid, Beet
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Nestle USA Inc. — BURSTING WITH PEANUTS, RICH CARAMEL AND CHEWY NOUGAT BAR
Cane Sugar, Peanut, Corn, Coconut, Cow's Milk, Fructose, Cocoa, Glycerin/Glycerol, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — HALLOWEEN MIX MYSTERIOUS MANGO, BATTY BLACKBERRY, BEWITCHED BLUEBERRY, CHILLING CHERRY KIWI FRUIT CHEWS, HALLOWEEN MIX
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Blue #2, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Mango, Blueberry, Cherry
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — TART CHERRY BERRY ORGANIC FRUIT SMOOTHIE FILLED ENERGY BARS, TART CHERRY BERRY
Cashew, Sunflower, Oat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Date, Green Pea, Glycerin/Glycerol, Tapioca, Cherry, Citric Acid, Apple
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
ANNIE'S HOMEGROWN — ORGANIC STRAWBERRY WITH FROSTING TOASTER PASTRIES
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Corn, Strawberry, Rice, Apple, Tapioca, Honey, Beet, Citric Acid, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — SWEET'N SOUR SAUCE, SWEET'N SOUR
Fructose, Corn, Pineapple, Tomato, Soybean, Onion, Mustard, Garlic, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — ZESTY RANCH CHIK'N VEGAN NUGGETS, ZESTY RANCH
Wheat, Soybean, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, White Potato, Onion, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — CHERRY DRINK, CHERRY
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Grape, Cherry, Grapefruit, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — 2 FLAVORS IN 1 COLLISIONS GUMMIES CANDY, RASPBERRY LEMONADE, CHERRY WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE PUNCH
Corn, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Raspberry, Lemon, Cherry, Watermelon, Pineapple
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — FLAVORED TORTILLA CHIPS, HINT OF LIME
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, Lime, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Post Consumer Brands, LLC — MIXED BERRY ALMOND FLAVORED CEREAL WITH STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRRIES & SLICED ALMONDS, MIXED BERRY ALMOND
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Almond, Oat, Strawberry, Raspberry, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Barley, Malt, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — BLACKENED WITH CAYENNE & LEMON RUB, BLACKENED WITH CAYENNE & LEMON
Paprika, Chili Pepper, Oregano, Thyme, Black Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Rice, Sunflower, Lemon, Turmeric
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — STRAWBERRY FLAVORED ORGANIC FRUIT & GRAIN BARS, STRAWBERRY
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Oat, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Strawberry, Apple, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Beet
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — HEARTY GARDEN VEGETABLE ORGANIC SOUP
Tomato, Carrot, Potato, Celery, Corn, Green Pea, Green Bean, Onion, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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