E445: Glycerol esters of wood rosin

What is E445?

Glycerol esters of wood rosin (E445), sometimes called ester gum, are hard, pale yellow resins formed by combining rosin acids with glycerol. They are dense and dissolve readily in flavour oils.

Origin and production

The rosin is extracted from aged pine stumps and refined before being reacted with glycerol, which may come from vegetable fats or other sources, and then purified.

Why is it used?

Their main role is as a 'weighting agent' in cloudy soft drinks: by increasing the density of citrus and other flavour oils, they stop the oil droplets from rising and forming a ring at the top of the bottle. This is why they appear in many flavoured sodas, sweetened beverages, flavoured waters and some plant-based drinks.

Vegan, vegetarian and halal

E445 is derived from pine trees and contains no animal ingredients in its usual form, so it is generally considered suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Safety and regulation

E445 is authorised in the EU, mainly for cloudy flavoured drinks and a few other uses with set maximum levels, and it was re-evaluated by EFSA.

Common in