About
What it is and where it shows up.
Acacia gum is a dried exudate from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal (L.) Willdenow or closely related species, widely used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in food. It is a complex, predominantly indigestible polysaccharide that behaves as a soluble dietary fibre, fermented in the colon by gut microbiota.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Both EFSA (2017) and JECFA (1982, 1990) concluded that no numerical ADI is needed, reflecting a broad safety margin at typical food-use levels. At very high oral doses (up to 30,000 mg/person/day for 18 days), some adults experienced flatulence, considered undesirable but not adverse. No genotoxicity, carcinogenicity concerns, or oral allergenicity have been identified in available studies.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Restricted | Not authorised for direct use as food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age; carry-over from nutrient preparations limited to 10 mg/kg in infant formulae (FC 13.1.1) and dietary foods for infants for special medical purposes (FC 13.1.5.1) per Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | GRAS status under 21 CFR 184.1330; also regulated as emulsifier/stabilizer/thickener at ≤20% in alcoholic beverages under 21 CFR 172.780.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Ibs — High doses of acacia gum can cause flatulence and gastrointestinal discomfort due to colonic fermentation, which may exacerbate symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.
Ibd — Colonic fermentation of acacia gum produces gas and short-chain fatty acids which, at high intakes, may aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
Infants — Acacia gum is not authorised for direct use as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age; exposure via carry-over in infant formulae is capped at 10 mg/kg per EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 Annex III.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1WHO. GSFA Online Food Additive Details – Gum Arabic (Acacia Gum) INS 414. fao.org
- 2FDA. Food Additive Status List – Acacia (Gum Arabic), 2026. fda.gov
- 3EFSA. Opinion on the re-evaluation of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and the follow-up of its re-evaluation as a food additive for uses in foods for all population groups, 2019. efsa.europa.eu
- 4EFSA. Re-evaluation of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
- 5PubMed. Re-evaluation of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. Acacia gum (Gum Arabic): a nutritional fibre; metabolism and calorific value, 1998. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Independently researched6 citations