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 314 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — DRINK, FRUIT PUNCH
Fructose, Corn, Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Grape, Cherry, Grapefruit, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Benzoic Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
O'SOLE MIO INC. — PLANT-BASED BEEFLESS TORTELLINI
Wheat, Green Pea, Canola/Rapeseed, Yeast (Baker's), Tapioca, Sunflower, Lemon, Citric Acid, Soybean, Onion, Potato, Garlic
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Plum Organics Mighty Snack Bars for Toddlers, Strawberry Fruit Snack Bar, 4 Ounce Box
Apple, Cane Sugar, Carrot, Citric Acid, Corn, Glycerin/Glycerol, Oat, Pumpkin, Strawberry, Sunflower, Tapioca, Wheat
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — BLUEBERRY FILLING ORGANIC GRAINS CEREAL BARS, BLUEBERRY
Wheat, Oat, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Apple, Blueberry, Rice, Glycerin/Glycerol, Citric Acid, Cabbage, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hershey Creamery Company — NEAPOLITAN PREMIUM ICE CREAM, NEAPOLITAN
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Corn, Cocoa, Strawberry, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, Whey, Carrageenan, Beet, Blue #1
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MAYO, MAYONNAISE, HOT & SPICY, HOT & SPICY
Soybean, Egg White, Egg Yolk, Corn, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion, Chili Pepper, Carrot, Lemon
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Co/golden Grain — HERBED CHICKEN FLAVOR COUSCOUS MIX, HERBED CHICKEN
Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), MSG, Onion, Corn, Chicken, Parsley, Garlic, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, Turmeric, Paprika
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — RASPBERRY LEMONADE, CHERRY WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE PUNCH FLAVORED GUMMIES, RASPBERRY LEMONADE, CHERRY WATERMELON, PINEAPPLE PUNCH
Cane Sugar, Corn, 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 |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Mini Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll-Ups and Gushers Gluten-Free Fruit Snacks Variety Pack 24 Count
Cane Sugar, Corn, Pear, Carrageenan, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Fructose, Glycerin/Glycerol, Grape
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Near East Rice Pilaf Spanish Rice 6.75 Ounce Paper Box.
Rice, Wheat, Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Chicken, Paprika, Citric Acid, Soybean, Turmeric
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Sabritas Salt & Lime Cacahuates Peanuts 1 5/8 Ounce Bag
Peanut, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, MSG, Lemon, Yeast (Baker's), FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Yellow #5, Blue #2
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
GENERAL MILLS SALES INC. — Progresso Traditional Chicken & Wild Rice Gluten-Free Canned Soup
Chicken, Celery, Carrot, Corn, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Onion, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Parsley, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — CAMPBELL SIGNATURE FROZEN SOUP 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 |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOURS CHERRY, BLUE RASPBERRY, WATERMELON & STRAWBERRY MINIS FRUIT CHEWS, SOURS
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Apple, Tapioca, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Cherry, Watermelon, Strawberry
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — FINGER PICKEN' BBQ MADE WITH ORGANIC PEANUTS AND CASHEWS SALTY SWEET BAR, SALTY SWEET BAR
Oat, Rice, Soybean, Peanut, Cashew, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion, Tomato, Garlic
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Australia Pty Limited — Cadbury Christmas Classics 415g
Cow's Milk, Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Whey, Wheat, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid, Honey, Egg White, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Foods-Snack Foods Group — SQUEALIN' HOT FRIED PORK RINDS CHICHARRONES, SQUEALIN' HOT
Pork, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Paprika, MSG, Corn, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Tomato, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Stonyfield Farm Inc — ROASTED RED PEPPER ORGANIC LOWFAT YOGURT & HUMMUS WITH PRETZELS SNACK PACK, ROASTED RED PEPPER
Cow's Milk, Yogurt, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Sesame, Lemon, Garlic, Citric Acid, Wheat, Yeast (Baker's), Capsaicin, Solanine
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
P. K. Kinder Co., Inc. — CARNE ASADA MEXICAN-STYLE CITRUS BLEND RUB, CARNE ASADA MEXICAN-STYLE CITRUS BLEND
Chili Pepper, Cumin, Oregano, Coriander/Cilantro, Black Pepper, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Onion, Citric Acid, Rice, Lime, Orange
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — HOT CREAMY CHILI HONEY SAUCE, HOT CREAMY CHILI HONEY
Soybean, Cane Sugar, Honey, Corn, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Egg Yolk, Garlic, Citric Acid, Lemon, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's)
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever — SEASONED TOMATO & RED PEPPER SAUCE GOURMET SHAKSHUKA, SEASONED TOMATO & RED PEPPER
Tomato, Solanine, Onion, Cane Sugar, Sunflower, Garlic, Cumin, Coriander/Cilantro, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Citric Acid
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — BEEF JERKY, SWEET CHIPOTLE
Beef, Cane Sugar, Peach, Soybean, Tomato, Honey, Apple, Garlic, Onion, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Celery
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — MARGHERITA MADE WITH ORGANIC TOMATOES & BASIL THIN CRUST TOPPED WITH MOZZARELLA PIZZA, MARGHERITA
Wheat, Tomato, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Olive, Honey, Basil, Safflower, Sunflower, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's)
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company — CHIK'N PLANT-BASED TENDERS, CHIK'N
Soybean, Wheat, Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Yeast (Baker's), Potato, Celery, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — HINT OF LIME 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 |
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