What is Guar Gum (E412) in food? Uses, Benefits, Safe and Effects

What is Guar Gum (E412) in food? Uses, Benefits, Safe and Effects

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Table of Contents

Guar gum is a polysaccharide that comes from the endosperm of guar beans. The protein-like polymers form a three dimensional matrix in a water solution, called hydrocolloids. This balanced dispersion prevents separation due to gravity and allows stabilization of emulsions and foams. These are the main characteristics that guarantee thickening (high viscosity) as well as very fine encapsulation of aromas, flavours, and nutrients.

What is Guar gum?

Guar gum is a complex carbohydrate that’s used primarily as a thickener, stabilizer and emulsifier in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Guar gum is made from the seed of the guar plant, which is grown mainly in India, Pakistan and the United States.

Guar gum is one of the most versatile food ingredients available due to its ability to thicken liquids without altering their appearance or taste. It can be added to ice cream, ketchup and salad dressings to help prevent them from separating during storage. It’s also used in cosmetics such as facial cleansers and hair conditioners because it helps these products retain moisture better than they would if they were formulated without guar gum.

Structure

Like locust bean gum and tara gum, galactomannans also contribute to the large percentage of guar gum; it can thus be chemically described as galactomannans.

Galactomannans are polysaccharides consisting of mannose and galactose with an approximate ratio in guar gum of 2:1, a ratio of 3:1 in tara gum, and a ratio of 4:1 in LBG.

Following is the structure of galactomannans sourced from EFSA.

guar-gum-chemical-structure-2545098-9010407

what is guar gum powder?

Guar gum is a galactomannan gum extracted from leguminous plants. It is a polysaccharide, composed of mannose and galactose monomers. It has a molecular weight of about 1 million daltons (10^6 g/mol).

The guar plant grows in semi-arid regions and can survive long periods of drought. Guar seeds are oily and rich in protein. In ancient times, they were used as food for birds and animals. The seeds were also used as medicine for constipation and stomach pain.

what guar gum made from?

Guar gum is made from the ground endosperm of a legume called Cyamopsis tetragonoloba. It is also known as cluster bean and galactomannan gum. Guar gum is a polysaccharide with many medical and industrial applications.

The plant grows in India, Pakistan, Mexico, China, Argentina and Australia. The seeds are extracted from the pods of the plant and then dried. After that they are milled into powder form before they are sold as a food additive or industrial product.

Guar gum has been used for centuries in India as a food thickener and stabilizer. In fact, it was one of the first gums to be used commercially in 1914 when it was used to make ice cream more elastic so that it could be easily scooped out of containers without melting on the way out. These days guar gum is added to many processed foods like cookies, cakes and candies to replace wheat gluten which can cause digestive issues in people who are sensitive to gluten.

Guar gum also has many medical uses including lowering blood cholesterol levels by preventing bile acid absorption from your intestines.

How is Guar gum made?

The seeds of the guar plant are used to make guar gum. The seed coats are removed from raw guar beans, and then they are ground into a fine powder. This is done using either mechanical or chemical processes.

Guar gum can be produced commercially or on a smaller scale at home. Commercial producers use large machines to extract the starch from guar beans and make it into a gel-like substance. Smaller-scale producers use blenders, food processors, and other kitchen tools to grind raw beans with water until they form a paste.

At this point, you may be wondering how to make your own guar gum at home. While it’s not necessary if you have access to large commercial producers who sell their products online or in stores, there are some benefits of doing so:

You can avoid many common allergens (including gluten) by making your own gum at home with organic ingredients.

how much guar gum to use?

Guar gum is a natural powder that comes from the guar bean. It’s used as a thickening agent in many foods and drinks, and it’s also used as a binder in cosmetics. Guar gum has a high fiber content, which makes it useful for binding foods and cosmetics together.

For use in food recipes, you can replace xanthan gum with guar gum at a ratio of 1:2.

Guar gum is most often found in products that require thickening or texturizing effects. For example, ice cream makers often use guar gum to make their frozen desserts more creamy and smooth. Guar gum also adds structure to baked goods such as breads and cookies, giving them better mouthfeel.

It also works well for adding body to sauces and puddings; just add a teaspoon or two of guar gum to your favorite recipe and you’ll see how quickly it works its magic!

what guar gum used for?

Guar gum is a thickening agent that is used in food, cosmetics, and industrial applications.

Guar gum is extracted from the seed coat of guar beans, a legume native to South Asia and grown widely in India, Pakistan, and Mexico. The seeds contain about 12% protein and 50% starch. Guar gum can be extracted from the whole seed or from just the endosperm of the seed.

Guar gum has been used for centuries in India as a thickening agent for drinks and cooking. Guar gum is also used as a laxative to relieve constipation and to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In addition to its use as a food additive and laxative, guar gum is also used as an emulsifier in ice cream and other foods.

how much guar gum in ice cream?

The answer is 0.1%. The Guar Gum content of ice cream is 0.1%. The percentage of Guar Gum in ice cream is 0.0001%. The amount of Guar Gum in Ice Cream is very low and does not have any effect on the taste or flavor of the food.

It’s used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in many foods including ice cream, yogurt, salad dressing and sauces/condiments like ketchup and mayonnaise (to thicken them). It can also act as an emulsifier for oils which means that it helps keep oil droplets suspended within water-based liquids like water-based paints or even toothpaste!

what is guar gum in coconut milk?

Guar gum is a water-soluble fiber that comes from the seeds of the guar plant. It’s used to thicken foods and drinks, including coconut milk.

Guar gum is used in many commercial products, including ice cream, salad dressing, sauces and baby formulas. Its ability to thicken liquids makes it useful as a thickener in gluten-free baked goods.

Guar gum can be found in some beverages made with coconut milk, such as chai tea and chocolate milk. It’s also used in many other foods and beverages, such as ice cream and salad dressing.

Types of Guar gum

There are three types of guar gum: a common type and clarified guar gum, which is the least processed, and partially hydrolyzed guar gum, which is partially hydrolysed by either heat treatment, mild acid or alkaline oxidative treatment is used for viscosity adjustment.

Specification

 

Appearance

Other names  
CAS number 9000-30-0
Molecular weight 50,000 -8,000,000

Properties

 

Solubility

  • In water: soluble in cold and hot water.
  • In organic solvent: insoluble in ethanol, practically insoluble in organic solvents like oils, greases, hydrocarbons, ketones and esters.

Viscosity

Guar gum can be dispersed in cold or hot water to form a highly viscous solution. after being dispersed in cold water for about two hours, the polymer exhibits a strong viscosity that increases gradually. The highest level of viscosity is reached in about 24 hours.

Its thickening ability is 5 to 8 times that of cornstarch (another common hydrocolloid), and the highest viscosity is quickly reached by heating. Like other hydrocolloids, the viscosity of guar gum depends on time, temperature, concentration, particle size of powder, pH and ionic strength as well as agitation.

Temperature

Generally, a solution’s viscosity increases as the temperature drops. However, in most cases, solutions of guar gum were more viscous when prepared with cold water than when prepared with hot water.  The viscosity of 0.5% (w/w) guar solutions at 25°C exceed that of 37°C.

Concentration

Gum arabic is a natural gum with the highest viscosity among all gums. A 1% aqueous solution of gum arabic shows very high viscosity even at very low concentration, with a viscosity of 4 to 5 Pa·s. It is therefore recommended to use it at below 1% concentration in most food applications.

PH

It has a non-ionic property, which makes it stable over pH range of about 1.0–10.5.

Its solution is neutral. The viscosity of a liquid varies with its pH.

PH Value  Viscosity
3.5 or less Increase
3.5 to 6 Decrease following with the pH goes down
6 to 8 Reach the highest
10 or more Go down quickly

Synergy

Guar gum, when combined with xanthan gum, gum tragacanth and karaya gum, shows viscosity synergy.

Gelling agent

Sodium borate is not self-gelling but can form a gel with small amounts added to its aqueous solution.

what guar gum made from?

Guar gum is a thickening agent and stabilizer made from the seeds of guar plant.. It’s a soluble fiber that has many health benefits.

The guar plant grows in India, Pakistan and North Africa. Guar gum is made by grinding the seeds into a fine powder. The powder can then be added to other foods or drinks.

Guar gum is used in many foods and drinks because it has many health benefits for people with diabetes or heart disease:

where does guar gum come from?

Guar gum is a natural plant gum manufactured from the seeds of the guar plant.The guar plant is a legume that grows in India and Pakistan. Guar gum has many uses, including as a thickening agent, emulsifier, stabilizer and preservative. In addition to its culinary uses, guar gum is also used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other industries.

The main use for guar gum is as a thickener in food products such as ice cream, salad dressing and sauces. It also helps to keep ingredients blended together during cooking and can prevent food from becoming soggy when stored for long periods of time.

People with diabetes often use guar gum because it slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream after meals. The FDA has approved this use for diets requiring low-calorie intake such as Nutrisystem® or Weight Watchers®. Guar gum may also help lower cholesterol levels by binding with bile acids in the small intestine before they are absorbed by your body.

Food

Guar gum is a hydrocolloid (a gelling agent) used in food, such as ice cream and frozen desserts, baked products, dairy products, beverages and more. It has a number of advantages over other hydrocolloids, including its water-retention ability, dietary fiber content, calorie reduction potential and ability to improve ice crystal formation during freezing while also regulating the rheological properties of whatever it’s added to.

Ice cream

Guar gum is used in ice cream manufacturing as a binder and stabilizer. Its property of rapid hydration in cold water makes it outstanding as an ice cream stabilizer, especially when used in high temperature, short-time processes (e.g., 80°C for 20–30 seconds). Guar gum can produce good quality ice cream using 0.2% of guar gum.

1. Combination

When used in combination with calcium sulfate, it produces an ice cream with a dry, stiff texture that does not melt quickly. It is also used as a stabilizer in ice cream mixes, along with sodium hexametaphosphate and sodium citrate.

2. What is guar gum do in ice cream?

  • It prevents crystals from growing and contributes to a creamy texture and body.
  • Add fiber and reduce fat
  • Increase stiffness
  • Slows down the melting of ice crystals
  • During storage to prevent crystallization of lactose

Bakery

Additionally, it gives baked goods a softer texture and a longer shelf life, as well as adding fiber. For example, in bread.

Sauces & Salad

Due to its high viscosity, acid stability and cold water solubility, it functions as a thickener.

Dairy Products

Milk, yogurts, and puddings are thickened using this ingredient. It increases the texture and maintains uniform viscosity. Specifically, it stabilizes coconut milk and provides a smooth, creamy texture.

Beverages

For low calorie beverages, it controls viscosity and reduces calories.

Pet food

Manufacturers often use it on the labels of pet foods. FDA has approved its use in animals as a safe stabilizing agent.

Cosmetics

According to the “European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients”, guar gum is a binding, emulsion stabilizing, film forming, masking and viscosity controlling agent for cosmetics and personal care products.

It may be found in the following products:

Pharmaceuticals

It has properties that allow it to act as a disintegrating agent, binding agent, viscosity-enhancing agent and thickener in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, it helps to improve the cohesiveness of the drug powder when forming tablets.

Clinical nutrition

In clinical nutrition, partially hydrolyzed guar gum (a low viscosity form) is used as a dietary fiber that is water-soluble. Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms may be reduced by this treatment.

Laxative

A component of some bulk-forming laxatives.

Others

Oil drilling & mining, textiles, explosives, and the paper industry are among the industries using it.

Guar gum Safe to eat?

It has been approved as a food additive by the   FDA, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), among others.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration has affirmed that guar gum added directly to human food is generally recognized as safe (GRAS).The gum can be used as an anticaking agent, emulsifier, stabilizer or thickener with other functions in food.

The following food may contain guar gum, and the maximum use levels are:

  • Most processed vegetables, including vegetable juices, contain 2.0% of their weight as water.
  • Fats and oils: 2.0%
  • Breakfast cereals: 1.2%
  • Gravies and sauces: 1.2%
  • Dairy products analogs: 1.0%
  • Jams and jellies: 1.0%
  • Soups and soup mixes: 0.8%
  • Cheese: 0.8%
  • Milk products: 0.6%
  • All other food categories: 0.5%

EFSA

Guar gum (E 412) is authorised as a food additive in the EU and is categorized as “additives other than colours and sweeteners” according to Annexes II and III of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

Safety re-evaluation in 2017

It was concluded that there is no need for a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI) for guar gum (E 412). Furthermor, there is no safety concern for the general population at the refined exposure assessment of guar gum (E 412) as a food additive.

Uses

The approved applications of E412 are listed separately and in Group I, where uses are permitted in “quantum satis” quantities.

Following foods may contain it:

  • Fermented cream products
  • Canned fruits and vegetables
  • Jams, jellies and marmalades
  • Table-top sweeteners come in powder and liquid forms.
  • Infant formulae
  • Cereal-based foods and baby foods

What are the good benefits of Guar gum?

Guar gum is a galactomannan, a type of soluble fiber. It is extracted from the seeds of the guar plant, which is native to India and Pakistan.

The benefits of guar gum include reduces blood glucose and cholesterol levels., reducing calorie intake, Increased frequency of bowel movements   can help prevent constipation. and increasing mineral absorption in the intestinal tract. It also has been shown to have some antibacterial qualities.

What are the bad side effects?

Some side effects have been reported from consumption of guar gum, but it is generally considered safe for consumption. The earliest reports of adverse reactions to guar gum included allergic symptoms, such as skin rashes and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Allergy

May cause asthma

Researchers reported in 1990 that three people exposed to guar gum exhibited allergic symptoms such as rhinitis and asthma.

May cause flatulence

When used for lowering serum total cholesterol levels, it may cause flatulence.

Other possible side effects

In 1992, the diet pill Cal-Ban 3000 was reported to have side effects including esophageal obstruction, small bowel obstruction and even death. Because of guar gum’s water-holding capacity and tendency to swell in size 10- to 20-fold, symptoms may have been triggered.

Pregnant

According to the study of reproductive and developmental toxicity on animals done by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), it is generally safe for pregnant women.

Where to buy guar gum?

It is a question that many people have on their minds. This is because it is not as easy as going to the grocery store and buying a bag of it. You need to know where to get guar gum so that you can use it in your recipes.

There are several places you can get guar gum. The first place is online. There are many websites that sell this product, and they will ship it right to your door. If you are looking for the best price, you may want to look at more than one website so that you can compare prices. Some of these sites offer discounts if you purchase more than one bag at a time, so this is something else to think about when buying online.

You can also find guar gum at some specialty stores such as health food stores or even some grocery stores may carry this product as well. It is important for you to read labels before buying anything though so that you know exactly what you are getting into with your purchase!

Guar gum is a powder that is made from the ground endosperm of guar beans. It can be used as a thickening agent in cooking and baking, and it’s also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other industries.

Guar gum is a soluble fiber that’s made from the endosperm of guar beans. The endosperm is the inner part of the seed, from which starch and protein are extracted. Guar gum contains about 55% soluble fiber, which helps to reduce blood cholesterol levels when consumed regularly. It’s also an excellent source of vegetable protein, containing about 33% protein by weight.

How to find right guar gum supplier?

There are many guar gum suppliers in the market but it is always better to choose the one that has a good reputation, high quality and affordable prices. You will also need to make sure that you are dealing with a certified manufacturer.

Here are some tips on how to find right guar gum supplier:

1. Quality of Guar Gum

2. Price of Guar Gum

3. Purity of Guar Gum

Frequently asked questions

Is it natural?

Yes,  Guar gum is a natural polysaccharide (a complex carbohydrate) obtained from the endosperm of seeds of the guar bean.

Is it Halal?

Yes, the halal certification is enough. Several manufacturers are certified with MUI halal.

Is it Kosher?

Yes, it is kosher pareve. The restaurant has met all “kashruth” requirements and can be certified as kosher.

Is it Gluten free?

Yes, guar gum is gluten free according to the U.S. FDA’s definition; it does not contain wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains.

Is it Vegan?

Yes, it is vegan. Guar gum is a vegetable gum that is manufactured without the use of animal matter or products derived from animals.

Conclusion

In order to determine whether or not you need to take guar gum, you first have to understand how it works. This article explains what guar gum is, and how it helps people suffering from diarrhea. It also includes some tips and tricks on how to handle guar gum, as well, so that you can minimize any downsides associated with the supplement.

Once you understand what guar gum is, how it works, and its main uses, you will realize that the applications for this natural thickener are almost endless. Explore the many ways in which this substance can be incorporated into your diet and even medicine.

Sophie Feng

Sophie Feng

Sophie Feng is the author of gradechemical.com, she is the co-founder of the grade chemical network. She has been in grade chemical company since 2017, with a working knowledge of food chemical .

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