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 83 of 318
| Product | Triggers | LEAP Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Campbell Soup Company — V8 Beverage Hot
Tomato, Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Spinach, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mediterranean Bistro — Stuffed Green Olives
Olive, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
|
Good Humor-breyers Ice Cream — Popsicle, Ice Pops, Sugar Free, Naturally Flavored Orange, Naturally and Artificially Flavored Cherry and Grape, Low Calorie
Glycerin/Glycerol, Corn, Citric Acid, Aspartame, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Cherry, Beet, Grape, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Trader Joe's, Edamame Hummus
Soybean, Sunflower, Sesame, Lemon, Cane Sugar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Onion
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Conagra Brands — Hunts Simply Traditional Pasta Sauce, 68 Oz
Tomato, Onion, Cane Sugar, Basil, Garlic, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
DAD'S ROOT BEER BARRELS CANDY
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Nabisco Rice Thins Crackers Brown Rice Thins White Cheddar Gluten Free1x3.500 Oz
Rice, Potato, Corn, Safflower, Cane Sugar, Cow's Milk, Whey, American Cheese, Onion, Yeast (Baker's), Citric Acid, Sunflower, Parsley, Turmeric, Soybean, Sesame
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Whole Foods Market, Inc. — Crunchy, Dry Roasted Cashews & Almonds Mixed with Sweet Cranberries & Pineapple Topped Off with Roasted & Salted Macadamias Kahuna Crunch Trail Mix
Almond, Cane Sugar, Canola/Rapeseed, Cashew, Citric Acid, Cranberry, Pineapple, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kraft Heinz Foods Company — MUCHO MANGO FRUIT JUICE COCKTAIL LIQUID WATER ENHANCER, MUCHO MANGO
Citric Acid, Glycerin/Glycerol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Yellow #6, Mango, Benzoic Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — Hi-c, Flavored Fruit Drink, Strawberry Kiwi Kraze
Fructose, Corn, Pear, Apple, Strawberry, Citric Acid, Cane Sugar
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Minute Maid Company — DAIQUIRI NON-ALCOHOLIC FROZEN CONCENTRATED MIXER, STRAWBERRY
Corn, Fructose, Strawberry, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, FD&C Red #40
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Perdue Farms Incorporated — Grilled Italian Style Chicken Breast Strips
Chicken, Rice, Garlic, Cane Sugar, Corn, Onion, Paprika, Citric Acid, Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Del Monte Foods Inc. — Peaches in Flavored Chia
Peach, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
The Kellogg Company — Assorted Fruit Flavored Snacks, Assorted Fruit
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso Chipotle Chicken Slow Cooker Seasoning Mix
Corn, Garlic, Onion, Cumin, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Citric Acid, Canola/Rapeseed, Soybean
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. — Meat Flavor Pasta Sauce, Meat
Tomato, Fructose, Corn, Beef, Soybean, Carrot, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Raspberry Organic Trail Mix Bars, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Raspberry
Almond, Cane Sugar, Cashew, Citric Acid, Cocoa, Lecithin (Soy), Lemon, Raspberry, Rice, Soybean, Sunflower, Tapioca, Vanilla
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Hormel Foods Corporation — Original Pepperoni, Original
Pork, Beef, Corn, Paprika, Garlic, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Clif Bar and Company — Spearmint Energy Chews, Spearmint
Tapioca, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Mint/Menthol, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Tyson — Fajita Seasoned Boneless, Skinless Chicken Strips
Chicken, Onion, Garlic, Corn, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Paprika, Citric Acid, Sunflower
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Kellogg Company Us — Kellogg's Other Licensed Fruit Pieces Hot Wheels 17.6oz
Corn, Cane Sugar, Apple, Citric Acid, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, Blue #1
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Annie's Organic Strawberry and Berry Really Peely Fruit Tape Variety Pack 12 Count
Pear, Apple, Sunflower, Strawberry, Tapioca, Carrot, Citric Acid, Raspberry
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
General Mills Sales Inc. — Old El Paso White Corn with a Hint of Lime Stand 'n Stuff Taco Shells 10 Count
Corn, Whey, Cow's Milk, Citric Acid, MSG, Lime, Yeast (Baker's), Parsley
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Mondelez Int. Us (0074819091009) — Sour Patch Kids Soft Candy Green Fat Free1x5.000 Lb
Cane Sugar, Corn, Citric Acid, Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5
|
6 | Phase 3 — Practitioner Guided |
|
Pepsico — Pepsi Caffeine Free Diet Cola 16.9 Fluid Ounce/ 6 Pack Plastic Bottles
Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid
|
6 | Phase 2 — Reintroduction |
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