Xanthan Gum, 82nd JECFA—Chemical and Technical Assessment (CTA), 2016

Abstract

This Chemical and Technical Assessment summarizes data and information on xanthan gum submitted to JECFA by International Special Dietary Foods Industries1 in a dossier dated 26 November 2015 and focusing on its use as thickener in infant formulae, follow-up formulae, and formulae for special medical purposes intended for infants. The Committee previously reviewed xanthan gum at its eighteenth, twenty-ninth and thirtieth meetings. At the thirtieth meeting, the Committee allocated an Acceptable D aily Intake (ADI) of “not specified” to xanthan gum. The Committee prepared specifications for xanthan gum at several of its meetings. The last specifications for xanthan gum were prepared at the fifty-third meeting in 1999. At the present meeting (eighty-second meeting), xanthan gum is being re-evaluated by the Committee with emphasis placed on the evaluation of safety data to support its intended use in infant formulae, follow-up formulae, and formulae for special medical purposes intended for infants.