Allervibe
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.
i Additive Details
| Is E414 Acacia gum (Gum arabic) safe?
Acacia gum is a tree exudate, and allergic reactions to it are documented although uncommon. Occupational asthma and rhinitis are well described in printers and in workers who inhale the powder, and there are case reports of urticaria and anaphylaxis after eating it; the small arabinogalactan-protein fraction of the gum is thought to be responsible rather than the carbohydrate. Because it is a fermentable fibre, large amounts can cause bloating and loose stools. EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation found no safety concern at the reported levels of use.
| Uses
Stabilises the flavour emulsions in soft drinks, stops sugar crystallising in confectionery, forms the hard shell on panned sweets and chewing gum, and carries flavours in spray-dried powders. It is also used in icings and glazes, as a fining and stabilising agent in wine, and as an added soluble fibre in some drinks. Unusually for a gum, it dissolves at very high concentrations without becoming thick, which is why little else replaces it easily.
| Interactions
It forms complex coacervates with gelatin, which is the basis of many microencapsulated flavours. In beverage emulsions it is often blended with modified starch (E1450) and used with weighting agents to keep citrus oils suspended. It stays soluble and stable across a wide pH range and tolerates high sugar and acid, so it works in systems where other hydrocolloids fail.
| Origin
Natural, of plant origin. It is the hardened sap that seeps from cuts in the bark of Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, trees of the African Sahel. The nodules are collected by hand, mainly in Sudan, Chad and Nigeria, then cleaned, dissolved, filtered and usually spray-dried into a powder.
| Daily Intake
EFSA re-evaluated acacia gum in 2017 and concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI and no safety concern at the estimated levels of exposure. JECFA likewise allocates an ADI 'not specified'. Its use in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age was considered separately in 2019.
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.
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- E412 Guar gum A galactomannan gum milled from guar beans, a legume, 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.
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