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Gum Karaya(E416)

Level 3 — ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary

Gum Karaya is a thickener gum — Stabilizer in cheese, dressings, ice cream, jelly, jam

Also: Sterculia Gum, Kadaya, Katilo, Kullo, Kuteera

What it does

Stabilizer in cheese, dressings, ice cream, jelly, jam

Where you'll see it

Cheese, dressings, ice cream, fruit jelly and jam, frozen foods

What the research says

Can cause allergic reactions: hay fever, dermatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, asthma. On FDA list for study.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved
  • Notes: On FDA list for teratogenic, mutagenic, subacute, reproductive effects since 1971

Sources

  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): can cause allergic reactions such as hay fever, dermatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, and asthma