Allervibe
E412
Guar gum
A galactomannan gum milled from guar beans, a legume, used to thicken and stabilize.
i Additive Details
| Is E412 Guar gum safe?
Guar gum comes from a legume, the guar bean, which matters if you avoid legumes. Occupational asthma and rhinitis are well documented in workers who breathe in the dust, while allergic reactions after eating it are rare but reported. As a highly fermentable soluble fibre it commonly causes bloating, gas or loose stools in larger amounts. Guar-based slimming tablets were withdrawn in the United States after they swelled and caused oesophageal and intestinal blockages, a problem tied to concentrated tablets rather than the small quantities used in food.
| Uses
Thickens sauces, dressings, dairy products, ice cream, drinks and gluten-free baked goods. It hydrates in cold water, so it thickens without heating and only small amounts are needed. It is also sold on its own as a soluble-fibre supplement.
| Interactions
Combined with xanthan gum (E415) it produces a far higher viscosity than either gum alone, and it is often paired with locust bean gum (E410) and carrageenan (E407). At fibre-supplement doses it slows gastric emptying and can delay or reduce the absorption of glucose and of some medicines, so oral drugs should be taken well apart from it.
| Origin
Ground endosperm of the seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, an annual legume grown mainly in India and Pakistan. The standard food grade is produced by mechanical milling, with no chemical modification.
| Daily Intake
No numerical ADI has been set. JECFA assigns an 'ADI not specified', and EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation found no safety concern at the reported uses and saw no need for a numerical limit.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E414 Acacia gum (Gum arabic) A soluble fibre made from the hardened sap of Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees, used as a thickener, emulsifier and glazing agent.
- E410 Locust bean gum A galactomannan gum milled from the seeds of the carob tree, used to thicken and stabilize.
- E440 Pectins A family of plant polysaccharides extracted mainly from citrus peel and apple pomace, used as a gelling agent.
- E466 Carboxymethyl cellulose A chemically modified, water-soluble cellulose used as a thickener, stabilizer and bulking agent, also labelled cellulose gum.
- E1412 Distarch phosphate A modified starch whose chains are cross-linked with phosphate groups so that it withstands heat, acid and stirring.
- E1442 Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate A modified starch that is both cross-linked with phosphate and etherified with hydroxypropyl groups, which gives it freeze-thaw stability.
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