Acacia gum variant
A perfectly safe, natural tree sap.
- Category
- Thickeners
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A specialized fraction or variant of standard gum arabic, used as a natural emulsifier and stabilizer.
How it is used in food
This acacia gum variant works as an emulsifier, stabiliser, glazing agent and encapsulation matrix. Its branched arabinogalactan-protein structure lets it dissolve to very high concentrations while staying thin, so it can carry flavour oils in soft drinks, form the shell of spray-dried flavour powders, prevent sugar crystallisation in confectionery and provide the shine on coated sweets. It is essentially pure soluble fibre with a very low glycaemic impact.
Commonly found in- Confectionery
- Beverages
Health and safety
Completely safe; acts as an indigestible dietary fiber.
EFSA re-evaluated acacia gum in 2017 and found no safety concern at reported uses, retaining an ADI 'not specified'; JECFA reached the same conclusion. Human and animal studies show it is not absorbed but fermented in the colon, and tolerance trials report intakes of tens of grams per day without serious effects beyond gas or loose stools. Occupational asthma and rhinitis have been documented in workers inhaling gum dust, but dietary allergy is very rare. Some trials suggest modest prebiotic and satiety effects, though these are not regulator-approved claims.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E414a
Worth knowing
Acacia gum is harvested by hand from wounded Acacia trees across the Sahel 'gum belt', mostly in Sudan, Chad and Nigeria, and remains one of the few major food ingredients still gathered from wild and semi-wild trees rather than farmed — which makes global soft-drink supply chains sensitive to drought and conflict in that region.
Conclusion
A perfectly safe, natural tree sap.
Is it in what you are buying?
ScanWise reads the barcode and tells you which additives a product actually contains, and what they do to its score.
Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
← All additives