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E417ThickenerLow concern
Tara Gum
In plain words
The short version
A natural galactomannan gum from Peruvian tara seeds — clean-label alternative to locust bean and guar gums.
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
ADI not specified — considered safe (EFSA 2017 re-evaluation). Treated like other galactomannan fibers: not absorbed, behaves as soluble fiber. No flagged hypersensitivity reports at food levels.
The detail
Extracted from the seeds of Caesalpinia spinosa, a small leguminous tree native to the Andes and cultivated in Peru. The seed endosperm is milled and screened. A galactose-to-mannose ratio of 1:3 — intermediate between guar (1:2) and locust bean (1:4), giving it unique functional properties.
Used in dairy desserts, ice cream, sauces, and pet food as a thickener and stabilizer. Increasingly chosen for clean-label gluten-free bakery applications. Synergistic with xanthan (E415) like locust bean gum — produces elastic, freeze-thaw stable gels.
White to off-white powder. Soluble in cold water (faster than locust bean gum). Forms viscous solutions at low concentration. Stable across a wide pH range.
Permitted globally without restrictive limits.
Sources
- EFSA ANS Panel — Re-evaluation of tara gum (E 417) as a food additive, EFSA Journal 2017;15(6):4863, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4863 — EFSA (via PubMed Central), 2017. No numerical ADI needed (EFSA 2017 re-evaluation)
- WHO JECFA database — Tara gum, INS 417 (evaluation 1986, 30th meeting) — World Health Organization / JECFA, 1986. ADI not specified (JECFA)
- European Commission food additives database — Tara gum, E 417 (Union list, Group I) — European Commission, DG SANTE, 2026. EU authorisation via Group I (quantum satis)
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.