Pectin | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Pectin is a naturally occurring structural polysaccharide extracted primarily from citrus peels and apple pomace, consisting of partial methyl esters of polygalacturonic acid; it is used in foods as a gelling agent, thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in products such as jams, jellies, dairy desserts, and fruit preparations. Its physicochemical properties—viscosity and gel strength—vary with molecular weight and degree of methylation.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

For the general population, pectin is considered safe with no numerical ADI required; no adverse effects were observed in chronic rat studies at up to 5,000 mg/kg bw per day, and a human dose of 36 g/day for 6 weeks caused no adverse effects. EFSA (2021) identified a specific concern for infants below 16 weeks of age, as pectin metabolism can generate methanol at maximum permitted levels potentially reaching adverse concentrations in this highly vulnerable group, and recommended a reduction in MPLs for relevant infant food categories. No genotoxicity or allergenic potential has been identified.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (Annexes II and III) as E440i (pectin) and E440ii (amidated pectin); specifications in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. ADI 'not specified' for the general population. Use in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age subject to restricted MPLs following the EFSA FAF Panel 2021 opinion due to methanol generation concerns.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Approved as INS 440 (pectins, amidated and non-amidated) under the Food Safety and Standards (Infant Formula and Health Foods for Sick Children) Regulations; maximum permitted level of 5,000 mg singly or in combination with other listed thickeners per 100 g of product in processed cereal-based complementary foods and relevant infant formula categories.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Listed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR 184.1588 for use in food at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice (GMP); no numerical upper limit set.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — EFSA (2021) determined that at maximum permitted levels in infant formula and special medical-purpose infant foods, pectin metabolism generates internal methanol doses that could lead to adverse health effects in infants below 16 weeks of age, and recommended reduced MPLs for this group.

Ibs — As a highly fermentable dietary fibre extensively metabolised in the large intestine to short-chain fatty acids and gas, pectin may aggravate bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, particularly at high intake levels.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1other. Class Names and the International Numbering System for Food Additives (CXG 36-1989, revised). fao.org
2EFSA. Opinion on the re-evaluation of pectin (E 440i) and amidated pectin (E 440ii) as food additives in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of their re-evaluation as food additives for uses in foods for all population groups, 2021. efsa.europa.eu
3PubMed. Opinion on the re-evaluation of pectin (E 440i) and amidated pectin (E 440ii) as food additives in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up of their re-evaluation as food additives for uses in foods for all population groups, 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4EFSA. Re-evaluation of pectin (E 440i) and amidated pectin (E 440ii) as food additives, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
5PubMed. Re-evaluation of pectin (E 440i) and amidated pectin (E 440ii) as food additives, 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched5 citations