Gum Ghatti

Prepared at the 29th JECFA (1985), published in FNP 34 (1986) and in FNP 52 (1992). Metals and arsenic specifications revised at the 57th
JECFA (2001). No ADI was allocated at the 29th JECFA (1985) SYNONYMS Indian gum, ghatti gum, gum ghati

DEFINITION A dried gummy exudation obtained from Anogeissus latifolia Wall. (family Combretaceae) consisting mainly of a calcium salt (may on occasions occur as a magnesium salt) of high molecular weight polysaccharide which on hydrolysis yields arabinose, galactose, mannose, xylose and glucuronic acid.

C.A.S. number 9000-28-6

Formula weight Approximately 90% of the product is water soluble, and this portion has a molecular weight of about 12,000 as determined by osmotic pressure measurements.

DESCRIPTION The unground product occurs in amorphous tears of various sizes or in broken irregular pieces; light to dark brown; available commercially also in the form of grey to reddish-grey powder; little or no odour. Items of commerce may contain extraneous materials such as pieces of bark which must be removed before use in food.

FUNCTIONAL USES Thickening agent, stabilizer