Is Xanthan gum safe for daily use as a food additive?

What is xanthan gum?

Xanthan gum is an FDA-approved food additive (stabilizer and emulsifier) without any restrictions. It is soluble in cold water and quickly produces a viscous, stable solution when in water, even at low concentrations. Since its solution exhibits high pseudoplastic flow, it is stable to acid, salt, and temperature. Therefore, xanthan gum is a suitable thickener, stabilizer, and suspending agent in many food products and can be added to a variety of products such as cake batter or frozen product batter, gluten-free bread, cookies, ice cream, milkshakes, juice drinks, and sauces.

Side Effects

Animal studies have evaluated the acute toxicity of xanthan gum by oral administration. In these studies, no significant toxicity was found when xanthan gum was taken at concentrations up to 20 g/kg body weight. However, xanthan gum is not digestible in humans. It is a soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is a carbohydrate that the human body cannot break down. It improves the passage of food through the upper gastrointestinal tract and can cause some side effects such as intestinal flatulence (gas) and bloating. People exposed to xanthan gum powder may experience flu-like symptoms, nose and throat irritation, and lung problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the maximum acceptable intake of xanthan gum as a food additive at 10 mg/kg per day and the maximum acceptable intake as a laxative at 15 grams per day. Bulk-forming laxatives such as xanthan gum require additional fluids for safety and effectiveness. It is safe to take up to 15 grams of xanthan gum per day.

References:

[1] 8 – Xanthan gum[C]. 1900: 0. DOI:10.1533/9781845695873.186.

[2] HOSSEIN HABIBI; Kianoush K D. Effective variables on production and structure of xanthan gum and its food applications: A review[J]. Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology, 2017, 10: Pages 130-140. DOI:10.1016/j.bcab.2017.02.013.

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