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Locust Bean Gum(E410)

Level 3 — ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary2 sources

Locust Bean Gum is a thickener gum — Thickener and stabilizer

Also: St. John's Bread, Carob Bean Gum

What it does

Thickener and stabilizer

Where you'll see it

Various foods

What the research says

[ultra-processed-people] Same gum-family critique as guar and xanthan: structural fat-replacement ingredient producing a fat-like mouthfeel that may contribute to the sensory-nutrition mismatches at the heart of UPF overconsumption.

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved

Sources

  • Ultra-Processed People (van Tulleken) — Chapter 2: The invention of UPF: stabilisers (locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan)
  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): used as a thickener and stabilizer