Food additives Europe numbers: E419
Functional Category:
thickener,stabiliser
Gum ghatti is a food excipient! It's a natural ingredient derived from the Anogeissus latifolia tree, found primarily in India. Here's a breakdown of its properties as a food excipient:
- Function: Gum ghatti acts as a multi-functional excipient. It can serve as:
- Thickener: It increases the viscosity of liquids, creating a thicker consistency in foods like sauces, ice creams, or yogurt.
- Stabilizer: It helps prevent separation of ingredients and maintains a uniform texture.
- Emulsifier: It aids in suspending oil and water together, preventing separation in products like salad dressings or mayonnaise.
- Safety: Studies have shown no evidence of toxicity or mutagenicity (causing genetic mutations) in gum ghatti [1]. Regulatory bodies like the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) consider it safe for consumption within specified limits [2].
- Regulation: Gum ghatti is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [3]. The Codex Alimentarius, an international food standards organization, also allows its use in various food categories under good manufacturing practices (GMP) [4].
- Applications: Due to its thickening and stabilizing properties, gum ghatti finds use in various food products, including:
- Bakery fillings and icings
- Ice creams and sorbets
- Sauces and dips
- Processed meats
- Salad dressings
Overall, gum ghatti is a safe and natural excipient used in various food products to improve texture, stability, and mouthfeel.