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 318 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — CROISSANT PLANT-BASED PATTY, EGG, & CHEESE SANDWICHES, CROISSANT
Wheat, Barley, Malt, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Fructose, Corn, Yeast (Baker's), Egg White, Egg Yolk, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Onion, Cow's Milk, American Cheese, Citric Acid
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — BAKEN-ETS, FRIED PORK SKINS CHICHARRONES
Pork, Cane Sugar, Corn, MSG, Fructose, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Garlic, Honey
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — FRIED PORK SKINS, SWEET SOUTHERN HEAT BBQ
Pork, Cane Sugar, Corn, MSG, Fructose, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Garlic, Honey
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Baken-ets Chicarrones Sweet Southern Heat BBQ Fried Pork Skins 1.5 Ounces
Pork, Sunflower, Corn, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Tomato, Onion, MSG, Wheat, Soybean, Citric Acid, Garlic, Paprika, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Blue #1
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hillshire Brands Company — PATTY, EGG & CHEESE PLANT-BASED CROISSANT SANDWICHES, PATTY, EGG & CHEESE
Wheat, Soybean, Lecithin (Soy), Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Whey, Barley, Malt, Canola/Rapeseed, Garlic, Onion, Turmeric, Corn, Potato, Coconut, Citric Acid
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico Inc. — Baken-ets Chicarrones Sweet Southern Heat BBQ Fried Pork Skins 2.5 Ounces
Pork, Cane Sugar, Corn, MSG, Fructose, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Garlic, Honey
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Frito-Lay Company — SWEET SOUTHERN HEAT BBQ FRIED PORK SKINS, SWEET SOUTHERN HEAT BBQ
Pork, Cane Sugar, Corn, MSG, Fructose, Yeast (Baker's), Onion, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Paprika, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Garlic, Honey
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — SALMON CLASSIC CAKE MIX, SALMON CLASSIC
Wheat, Corn, Fructose, Cane Sugar, Soybean, Yeast (Baker's), Whey, Paprika, Celery, Mustard, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Solanine, Onion, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
16 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — PEPPERONI PLANT BASED PIZZA POCKET PIES, PEPPERONI
Wheat, Barley, Malt, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, White Potato, Coconut, Tomato, Green Pea, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid, Paprika, Rice, Onion
|
17 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — TAKE5, MILK CHOCOLATE BAR
Cane Sugar, Wheat, Peanut, Sunflower, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Fructose, Corn, Cocoa, Coconut, Soybean, Cow's Milk, Whey, Lecithin (Soy), Glycerin/Glycerol, Carrageenan, Citric Acid
|
17 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — GARLIC & HERB SEASONING
Garlic, Onion, Black Pepper, Parsley, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Thyme, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin, Mustard, Rosemary, Orange, Paprika, Citric Acid, Capsaicin
|
17 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — INDIAN INSPIRED CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA, INDIAN INSPIRED CHICKEN
Chicken, Tomato, Citric Acid, Cow's Milk, Carrageenan, Onion, Yogurt, Canola/Rapeseed, Corn, Ginger, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Turmeric, Paprika, Coriander/Cilantro, Lemon, Yeast (Baker's)
|
17 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Hershey Company — SNACK MIX
Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Cow's Milk, Lecithin (Soy), Soybean, Peanut, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, Coumarin/Vanillin, Wheat, Tapioca, Malt, Yeast (Baker's), Sunflower
|
18 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Wolfgang Puck Organic Signature Tortilla Soup, 14.5 oz.
Chicken, Tomato, Corn, Onion, Cow's Milk, Whey, Cane Sugar, Fructose, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Chili Pepper, Capsaicin, Lime, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Soybean, Paprika, Solanine
|
18 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills, Inc. — ORGANIC MINESTRONE SOUP
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Potato, Kidney Bean, Green Pea, Wheat, Egg White, Green Bean, Corn, Onion, Cane Sugar, Olive, Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Black Pepper, Citric Acid
|
18 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — CLASSIC MINESTRONE ORGANIC SOUP, CLASSIC MINESTRONE
Tomato, Carrot, Potato, Green Bean, Kidney Bean, Wheat, Egg White, Green Pea, Celery, Spinach, Onion, Corn, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Sunflower, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
18 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — CAMPBELL'S, ORGANIC CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
Tomato, Citric Acid, Corn, Chicken, Onion, Safflower, Sunflower, Lime, Celery, Cumin, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Oregano, Black Pepper, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Yeast (Baker's), Lemon
|
19 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — SAUSAGE & MUSHROOM PLANT BASED PIZZA, SAUSAGE & MUSHROOM
Wheat, Barley, Malt, Yeast (Baker's), Corn, Soybean, Cane Sugar, Tomato, Olive, Garlic, Citric Acid, Green Pea, Canola/Rapeseed, Coconut, Mushroom, Onion, Fructose, Potato, Apple
|
19 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ORIGINAL SEASONING BLEND, ORIGINAL
Onion, Garlic, Black Pepper, Parsley, Celery, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Mustard, Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin, Chili Pepper, Orange, Carrot, Corn, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
19 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — INDIAN SAMOSA WRAP MADE WITH ORGANIC POTATOES, PEAS AND TOFU, INDIAN
Wheat, Potato, Onion, Green Pea, Soybean, Tomato, Citric Acid, Sunflower, Carrot, Coriander/Cilantro, Garlic, Ginger, Cane Sugar, Corn, Olive, Lemon, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Chili Pepper
|
19 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Campbell Soup Company — ORGANIC GARDEN VEGETABLE WITH HERBS SOUP, GARDEN VEGETABLE WITH HERBS
Carrot, Onion, Potato, Celery, Green Bean, Green Pea, Spinach, Corn, Tomato, Wheat, Egg White, Cane Sugar, Yeast (Baker's), Garlic, Basil, Parsley, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Chili Pepper
|
19 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY — Wolfgang Puck Organic Classic Minestrone Soup, 14.5 oz.
Carrot, Onion, Celery, Tomato, Kidney Bean, Wheat, Egg White, Potato, Green Bean, Green Pea, Zucchini, Cane Sugar, Corn, Olive, Garlic, Oregano, Yeast (Baker's), Basil, Paprika, Citric Acid
|
20 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — VEGETABLE SALT FREE SEASONING, VEGETABLE
Onion, Garlic, Black Pepper, Parsley, Celery, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Thyme, Mustard, Cumin, Rosemary, Chili Pepper, Coriander/Cilantro, Orange, Carrot, Corn, Citric Acid, Tomato, Lemon
|
20 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
McCormick & Company, Inc. — ONION AND HERB SALT FREE SEASONING, ONION AND HERB
Onion, Black Pepper, Celery, Coriander/Cilantro, Oregano, Mustard, Cumin, Basil, Bay Leaf, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Chili Pepper, Garlic, Orange, Tapioca, Corn, Rice, Citric Acid, Lemon
|
20 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Amy's Kitchen Inc. — SUPREME MEATLESS PEPPERONI & SAUSAGE HAND-STRETCHED WHEAT CRUST VEGAN PIZZA
Wheat, Tomato, Tapioca, Coconut, Canola/Rapeseed, Safflower, Potato, Citric Acid, Yeast (Baker's), Soybean, Rice, Chili Pepper, Onion, Sunflower, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Beet, Paprika, Olive, Mushroom, Corn
|
21 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
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