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E410ThickenerLow concern
Locust Bean Gum
In plain words
The short version
A traditional galactomannan thickener from carob seeds — pairs synergistically with xanthan and carrageenan.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
No ADI specified. Generally well tolerated. Like other galactomannan fibers, high doses may cause flatulence or bloating. No established allergenicity outside rare case reports.
The detail
Extracted from the seeds of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), native to the Mediterranean. Used since antiquity as food and fiber; the historically consistent seed weight inspired the carat measure for gemstones.
Used in ice cream, cream cheese, salad dressings, and gluten-free baked goods. Combined with xanthan gum (E415) or carrageenan (E407) for synergistic gelling at low total levels. Improves freeze-thaw stability in dairy.
Off-white powder, dispersible in cold water and fully hydrated in hot water above 80°C. Forms viscous, neutral-flavored solutions. Galactomannan structure (~1:4 ratio of galactose to mannose).
Permitted in the EU and US. In the US it is GRAS with maximum use levels by food category, ranging from 0.15% in baked goods to 0.8% in cheeses, with 0.5% in all other food categories.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Locust bean gum / carob bean gum (INS 410), evaluations 1981, 2016 and 2025 (100th meeting) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2025. JECFA ADI not specified
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of locust bean gum (E 410) in foods for infants below 16 weeks and follow-up for all population groups (EFSA Journal 2023;21(2):7775) — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), EFSA Journal (via PubMed Central), 2023. No numerical ADI needed (EFSA)
- 21 CFR 184.1343 — Locust (carob) bean gum (GRAS), eCFR current as of 2026-10-13 — U.S. eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO), 2026. US GRAS status with maximum use levels by food category
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.