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Gum Arabic(E414)

Level 3 — ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources

Gum Arabic is a thickener gum — Emulsifier, stabilizer, gelling additive

Also: Acacia Gum

What it does

Emulsifier, stabilizer, gelling additive

Where you'll see it

Ice cream, vanilla powder, face masks, hair products

What the research says

May cause allergic reactions: hay fever, dermatitis, gastrointestinal distress, asthma. [ultra-processed-people] Member of the broader gum family — used like xanthan/guar to give industrial mouthfeel and stability. Inherits the gum critique that fat-mimicking texture without fat creates the sensory-nutrition mismatch driving overconsumption.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved

Sources

  • Ultra-Processed People (van Tulleken) — Afterword: quick-fire list: Other additives that affect the microbiome are maltodextrins, modified starches and lots of the gums and thickeners
  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): may cause allergic reactions such as hay fever, dermatitis, gastrointestinal distress, and asthma