Xanthan Gum E415 is a food thickening agent in salad dressings. It appears as a dry fine powder, and is added to a liquid medium to form a gum. It can be used in gluten-free baking and to thicken egg-substitutes. Though Xanthan Gum E415 is considered safe, some are convinced it has potentially dangerous health effects.
What Is Xanthan Gum E415?
Xanthan Gum E415 is an odorless, cream colored powder produced by fermentation of Xanthomonas Campestris. It is a complex long chained polysaccharide with a high content of trisaccharide side chains that readily dissolve in cold and hot water. The solutions are very viscous, highly pseudoplastic, and very resistant to pH-variations, enzymatic degradation, and temperature variations. Xanthan Gum has excellent freeze/thaw stability and is compatible with all commercial thickeners and alcohol. It is used as a thickener, stabilizer, emulgator, or foam stabilizer in food and beverages. The application of Xanthan Gum E415 such as in fruit juices, ice creams, soy sauce, oyster sauce, baked goods, gels, soft drinks, salad dressings, instant noodles, sausages, canned meats, cheese, cakes, bread, dehydration foods, and canned pet food.
Possible Side Effects of Xanthan Gum E415
Though Xanthan Gum E415 is regarded as safe supplement, there maybe some side effects:
- Bloating and Intestinal Gas from consuming large quantities
- Nose and Throat Irritation if exposed to the powder for sustained periods
- Lung Problems
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty Passing Stool
- Headache
- Stomach or Abdominal Pain
GRAS Affirmation: Yes
Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) is an American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designation that a chemical or substance added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) food additive tolerance requirements. Xanthan Gum is considered safe.
Suggested Dosage
10 milligrams per kilogram per day as a food additive, 15 grams per day as a laxative and 12 grams per day as a muffin ingredient for diabetics
Special Populations Precaution
There is a lot of concern about diet and nutrition for these population, like Newborns, children, pregnant, sensitive to Xanthan Gum populations. Better consult to your doctor if you would like to intake Xanthan Gum E415.
Related Research
1. The effects of a xanthan gum-based thickener on the swallowing function of patients with dysphagia [Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014 May] Author: By Rofes L, Arreola V, Mukherjee R, Swanson J, Clavé P
2. Rheological characterization of an acetaminophen jelly. [Indian J Pharm Sci. 2013 Jul] Author: Inoue Y, Takahashi R, Okada H, Iwasaki Y, Murata I, Kanamoto I.
3. Effect of cell immobilization on heat-induced sublethal injury of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria innocua. [Food Microbiol. 2013 Dec] Author: Noriega E, Velliou E, Van Derlinden E, Mertens L, Van Impe JF.
4. Efficacy and safety of chondroitin sulfate/xanthan gum versus polyethylene glycol/propylene glycol/hydroxypropyl guar in patients with dry eye. [Clin Ophthalmol. 2013] Author: Llamas-Moreno JF, Baiza-Durán LM, Saucedo-Rodríguez LR, Alaníz-De la O JF.
5. Processing of waxy starch/xanthan gum mixtures within the gelatinization temperature range. [Carbohydr Polym. 2013 Jul 25] Author: Heyman B, Depypere F, Van der Meeren P, Dewettinck K.