Gum Acacia | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Gum acacia (gum arabic) is a natural polysaccharide exudate harvested from Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees, composed primarily of arabinogalactan with a proteinaceous component. It is widely used in food as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in confectionery, beverages, and bakery products.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Both EFSA (2017) and JECFA have concluded that no numerical ADI is required, reflecting a broad international safety consensus. High oral doses up to 30,000 mg/person/day for up to 18 days were well tolerated in adults, with flatulence as the only noted effect, considered non-adverse. No genotoxicity concerns have been identified, and the additive is not authorized for direct use in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age, permissible only as carry-over at a maximum of 10 mg/kg in infant formula.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	2019 follow-up opinion confirmed large margins of safety (MOS ~2,000–8,000) for infants based on carry-over exposure; no genotoxicity concern reiterated. Covers safety assessment for infants below 16 weeks of age under EFSA Scientific Committee guidance (2017).source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Listed as Gum Arabic (INS 414) in Food Safety and Standards (Infant Foods) Regulations Version-II (04.01.2024). Permitted at a maximum level of 5000 mg per 100g ready-for-consumption product, singly or in combination with other permitted thickeners/stabilizers in specified food categories.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1330 as emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener (GMP). Also listed as a regulated direct food additive at ≤20% in alcoholic beverages under 21 CFR 172.780. Permitted in standardized foods including frozen desserts (Part 135) and food dressings (Part 169).source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — Gum acacia is not authorized for direct use in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age in the EU; it is permitted only as carry-over at ≤10 mg/kg in infant formula, per EFSA 2019 guidance, due to limited infant-specific toxicological data.

Ibs — Gum acacia is fermented by intestinal microbiota and high doses can cause flatulence and gastrointestinal discomfort, which may worsen symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, as noted in the EFSA 2017 re-evaluation.

Ibd — As a fermentable polysaccharide, large doses may increase intestinal gas production and luminal fermentation, potentially aggravating gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1WHO. JECFA Database: Gum arabic (Acacia gum) — CAS 9000-01-5, INS 414. apps.who.int
2FDA. 21 CFR 184.1330 — Acacia (gum arabic): GRAS direct food substance. accessdata.fda.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Infant Foods) Regulations, Version-II (04.01.2024), 2024. fssai.gov.in
4EFSA. 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
5EFSA. Re-evaluation of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
6PubMed. Re-evaluation of acacia gum (E 414) as a food additive, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched6 citations