E417: Tara gum

What is E417?

E417 is tara gum, a natural thickener made of galactomannans, long chains of the sugars mannose and galactose. It dissolves in water to form viscous solutions and behaves similarly to guar gum and locust bean gum.

Origin and production

Tara gum is obtained by grinding the endosperm of seeds from the tara tree (Caesalpinia spinosa), a shrub native to Peru and other parts of the Andes. The seed husks and germ are removed, leaving a white to yellowish powder.

Why is it used?

Manufacturers add tara gum to thicken, stabilise and improve texture, and it is particularly useful in frozen desserts because it helps limit ice crystal growth and gives a creamy mouthfeel. It appears in ice creams, ice cream bars and tubs, frozen cakes such as Yule logs and some baked goods.

Vegan, vegetarian and halal

E417 is derived from a plant seed and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It raises no particular halal or kosher issues in itself.

Safety and regulation

Tara gum is authorised as a food additive in the European Union, and EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation of the gum did not identify a safety concern at reported uses. It is permitted in many other countries as well.

Common in