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 315 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Frito-Lay Company — SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CHILI LIME
Sunflower, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar, MSG, Yeast (Baker's), FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Garlic, Onion, Corn, Lime
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — HINT OF LIME 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 |
|
Terrapin Ridge Farms LLC — GINGER, MISO & HONEY DRESSING, GINGER, MISO & HONEY
Cane Sugar, Soybean, Honey, Rice, Corn, Ginger, Wheat, Garlic, Sesame, Onion, Citric Acid, Mustard
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — HINT OF LIME FLAVORED TRIANGLES 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 |
|
BJ's Wholesale Club / Corporate Brands — PREMIUM NEAPOLITAN CHOCOLATE, STRAWBERRY & VANILLA FLAVORED ICE CREAM, PREMIUM NEAPOLITAN
Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Corn, FD&C Red #40, Cocoa, Egg Yolk, Carob, Carrageenan, Vanilla
|
12 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — MINIS SOURS FRUIT CHEWS, CHERRY, BLUE RASPBERRY, WATERMELON & STRAWBERRY
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 |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — ORGANIC MINESTRONE SOUP
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Kidney Bean, Wheat, Onion, Green Bean, Corn, Green Pea, Spinach, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — HERB SEASONED CUBED STUFFING MIX, HERB SEASONED
Wheat, Barley, Fructose, Corn, Soybean, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Sage, Celery, Lecithin (Soy), Garlic, Citric Acid, Rosemary
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
WELCH'S — GREEK NONFAT YOGURT
Grape, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Corn, Whey, Yogurt, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Tapioca, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Coconut, FD&C Red #40
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Unilever Bestfoods North America — CHIPOTLE VEGAN MAYO
Sunflower, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Salicylic Acid, Solanine, Tomato, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Garlic, Soybean, Lemon, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — NACHO FLAVORED CRUNCHY CORN KERNELS, NACHO
Corn, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean, Tomato, Cow's Milk, MSG, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Paprika
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Cape Cod Potato Chips Inc. — CAPE COD, KETTLE COOKED POTATO CHIPS, SWEET MESQUITE BARBEQUE
Potato, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Safflower, Soybean, Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Honey, Citric Acid, Paprika
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — STRAWBERRY GRANOLA BAR, STRAWBERRY
Oat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Wheat, Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol, Strawberry, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Lecithin (Soy), Corn
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
RITZ CRISP & THIN CRACKERS CHEESE AND ONION
Potato, Sodium Metabisulfite, Corn, Sunflower, Wheat, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Onion, Canola/Rapeseed, Oat, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Citric Acid
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Quaker Oats Company — STRAWBERRY GRANOLA BARS, STRAWBERRY
Oat, Cane Sugar, Rice, Wheat, Soybean, Glycerin/Glycerol, Strawberry, Fructose, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Lecithin (Soy), Corn
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands Inc — DAVID BBQ Sunflower Seeds, 1.625 OZ
Sunflower, Cane Sugar, Corn, Tomato, MSG, Onion, Garlic, Honey, Citric Acid, Paprika, Yeast (Baker's), Capsaicin, Solanine
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — MILK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS STUFFED WITH PIECES BIG CUP CANDY
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Peanut, Corn, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Citric Acid, Coumarin/Vanillin
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Plum Organics Jammy Sammy Blueberry & Oatmeal, 5.1oz (Pack of 5)
Wheat, Cane Sugar, Oat, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Tapioca, Apple, Blueberry, Citric Acid
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — ITALIAN SAUSAGE, MUSHROOM & OLIVE MADE WITH ORGANIC FLOUR & VEGETABLES HAND-STRETCHED CRUST MEATLESS PIZZA, ITALIAN SAUSAGE, MUSHROOM & OLIVE
Wheat, Tomato, Cow's Milk, Mushroom, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Olive, Black Pepper, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — BROOKSIDE, CRUNCHY CLUSTERS, ALMOND & CHERRY, ALMOND & CHERRY
Almond, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Cherry, Citric Acid, Cocoa, Corn, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Rice, Safflower, Soybean, Tapioca
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — MEDIUM MOLE NEGRO ORGANIC SIMMER SAUCE, MEDIUM MOLE NEGRO
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Sesame, Cocoa, Canola/Rapeseed, Citric Acid, Garlic, Pumpkin, Corn, Chili Pepper, Grape, Lemon
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — ASSORTED FLAVORS JELLYBEANS CANDY, CHERRY, LEMON, GREEN APPLE, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY, GRAPE
Cane Sugar, Corn, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1, Cherry, Lemon, Orange, Strawberry, Grape
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mars, Inc. — SOURS GUMMIES CANDY, TANGY CHERRY, WATERMELON, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY, BLACK RASPBERRY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Blue #1, Tapioca, Cherry, Watermelon, Orange, Strawberry, Raspberry
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — INDIAN MATTAR PANEER CURRIED PEAS & CHEESE WITH CHANA MASALA MADE WITH ORGANIC TOMATOES, PEAS & BASMATI RICE, INDIAN MATTAR PANEER
Rice, Green Pea, Tomato, Onion, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, Safflower, Sunflower, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric, Corn, Chili Pepper
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — MEATLESS PEPPERONI VEGAN PIZZA
Wheat, Tomato, Olive, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Soybean, Sunflower, Potato, Paprika, Garlic, Onion, Citric Acid, Beet
|
13 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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