Xanthan gum is one of the 30 most popular ingredients used in food products. You\u2019ll find it in salad dressings, sauces, ice cream and also gluten-free foods. What is xanthan gum, and why is it such a popular ingredient?<\/p>\n
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT XANTHAN GUM?<\/p>\n
1 \u2013 Xanthan Gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria, Xanthomonas campestris. It\u2019s the same bacteria that creates black spots on broccoli and cauliflower. The result is a slimy goo that is then dried up and ground into a fine white powder.<\/p>\n
2 \u2013 It is an emulsifier. It helps ingredients blend more effectively and stay blended while waiting on a shelf. For example \u2013 water and oil mixtures, as well as bits of spice in a salad dressing.<\/p>\n
3 \u2013 It is also used as a thickener. Add a bit to water and it becomes more viscous. Many fat-free salad dressings maintain an oily viscosity by using thickeners such as xanthan gum. In pastry fillings, it prevents the water seeping out and soaking the dough, thus protecting the crispness of the crust.<\/p>\n
4 \u2013 It is used in ice creams as well to prevent the formation of ice crystals and keep the product \u201csmooth\u201d.<\/p>\n
5 \u2013 It has become popular in the gluten-free circles. It helps give the dough a sticky consistency.<\/p>\n
6 \u2013 Only a small amount of xanthan gum is necessary to achieve the desired result, usually less than 0.5% of the food product weight.<\/p>\n
7 \u2013 When mixed with guar gum or locust bean gum, the viscosity is more than when either one is used alone, so less of each can be used.<\/p>\n
8 \u2013 Nutritionally, xanthan gum is a carbohydrate with 7 grams of fiber per tablespoon. This may cause bloating in some people.<\/p>\n
9 \u2013 It may be derived from a variety of sources such as corn, wheat, or soy. People with an allergy to one of the above, need to avoid foods with xanthan gum or to ascertain the source.<\/p>\n
10 \u2013 It was \u201cdiscovered\u201d by a team of USDA researchers in the 1960\u2019s. In 1968 it was approved for use as a food additive in the US and Europe.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s perfectly safe to consume if you don\u2019t have any allergy issues as mentioned above. However, most people wouldn\u2019t prepare a salad dressing at home with xanthan gum, nor add it to a pastry filling. When you see xanthan gum labeled on products at the supermarket, you realize that you are buying an industrially processed product. In this case, the health\/nutrition consequences are minimal, but check what other, more sinister additives are lurking in the product as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Xanthan gum is one of the 30 most popular ingredients used in food products. You\u2019ll find it in salad dressings, sauces, ice cream and also gluten-free foods. What is xanthan gum, and why is it such a popular ingredient? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT XANTHAN GUM? 1 \u2013 Xanthan Gum is made by… <\/p>\n