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Xanthan gum - Healthy or Harmful?

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Xanthan gum can be a food additive not heard about, but it is likely consumed several times a week. To know more about it, please read the article.

Written byDr. Preetha. J

Medically reviewed byDr. Sugreev Singh

Published At January 20, 2022
Reviewed AtApril 22, 2026

What Is Xanthan Gum?

Xanthan gum is a familiar food additive that is commonly added to thicken or stabilize food. Xanthan gum is a substance that helps make a few foods and medications. It was discovered by a few scientists in 1963. After that, it was well-researched and determined to be safe to consume. Therefore, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved xanthan gum as a food additive and placed no restrictions on the amount of xanthan gum a food can contain.

How Is Xanthan Gum Manufactured?

Xanthan gum is usually produced by fermenting a carbohydrate (a sugar substance) with Xanthomonas campestris (bacteria) and processing it. When sugar is fermented, it creates a solid broth-like substance by adding alcohol. They are then dried and converted into powder. These products have different effects, like adding thickness, keeping textures from changing, and holding components in place to which they are added.

Xanthan gum can be seen in many medicines, such as tablets, that slowly break down in the body and eye drops.

Adding this xanthan gum powder to a liquid will quickly disperse and create a vicious and stable solution. This provides many products with a great thickening, suspending, and stabilizing agent.

Even though xanthan gum is made in a laboratory, it is a soluble fiber. These soluble fibers are carbs that the body cannot break down. They can absorb water and turn it into a gel-like substance in the digestive system, which slows down digestion.

Therefore, the body cannot digest xanthan gum, and it does not provide any calories or nutrients.

What Are All the Foods That Contain Xanthan Gum?

Xanthan gum can improve the texture, thickness, flavor, shelf life, and appearance of many foods.

It also helps to stabilize foods, helping them to withstand different temperatures and pH levels. Additionally, it helps foods to flow smoothly out of their containers.

It is used instead of gluten because it can provide the elasticity and fluffiness that gluten can give in traditional baked goods.

The common foods that contain xanthan gum are:

  • Ice creams.

  • Bakery products

  • Sauces and gravies.

  • Syrups.

  • Low-fat foods.

  • Salad dressings

  • Fruit juices.

  • Soups.

  • Gluten-free products.

What Are the Personal Care Products That Contain Xanthan Gum?

Xanthan gum is also present in many personal care products. It makes these products to be thick and allow them to flow easily out of their containers. It also helps the solid particles to be suspended in the liquids.

Some common products that contain xanthan gum are:

  • Lotions.

  • Creams.

  • Toothpaste.

  • Shampoo.

What Are the Industrial Products That Contain Xanthan Gum?

Many industrial products contain xanthan gum because it can withstand different temperatures and pH levels and thicken liquids while maintaining a good flow.

Common industrial products that contain xanthan gum are:

  • Paints.

  • Fluids used in oil drilling.

  • Adhesives like wallpaper glue.

  • Fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides.

  • Tile, grout, oven, and toilet bowl cleaners.

Why Is Xanthan Gum Used in Pharmaceutical Products?

Xanthan Gum is used in pharmaceuticals to improve its thickness and stability. They are used in medicines to enhance the texture of the medicine or to slow down the release of active ingredients.

Does Xanthan Gum Contain Any Food Allergens?

Xanthan gum manufacturers will sometimes use some common food allergens, like corn, soy, wheat, and dairy products, to produce it. So, if anyone has an allergy to one or more of these products listed above, they should avoid xanthan gum and products that contain it.

Xanthan gum is not a common food allergen, but some people may experience allergic reactions to xanthan gum, which is relatively rare by comparison.

A group of the eight major allergy-causing foods, often referred to as milk, eggs, crustacean shellfish, fish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans, is the reason for about 90 % of all food allergies in the world. Ingestion of these food allergens can cause severe food allergies and life-threatening reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Persons may still have allergic reactions to foods other than the eight foods mentioned above.

What Are the Benefits of Xanthan Gum?

The benefits of xanthan gum include:

  • It can minimize blood pressure.

  • It can fight and prevent cancer.

  • It is gluten-free. People with celiac disease must avoid a protein called gluten, which is found in many grains, like wheat, barley, and rye. Therefore, they are the common ingredients in many baked goods and pasta. This gluten can make the dough stretchy and help to create an airy texture for baked goods. When baking, some people with celiac disease mix xanthan gum with gluten-free flour instead of gluten to achieve the same effects.

  • It can lower cholesterol levels.

  • People who have xanthan gum have noted that it increases their fullness after consumption, thus helping delay stomach emptying and slow digestion. In this way, it is helpful in weight loss.

  • Xanthan gum can increase the movement of water into the intestines to create a softer, bulkier stool that is easier to pass.

  • Xanthan gum is used to thicken liquids for people who have difficulty swallowing, like older adults or people with neurological disorders.

  • It is used as a saliva substitute for individuals suffering from dry mouth.

  • It also has a prebiotic effect and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.

What Are the Risks Associated With Xanthan Gum?

A few side effects have been reported due to xanthan gum. They are banned from being given to premature infants because they can lead to a severe digestive problem known as necrotizing enterocolitis. It may cause gas, increased frequency of bowel movements, increased stool output, softening of the stools, bloating, and alteration in the gut bacteria. It can also have a laxative effect if consumed in large amounts. Therefore, it is advisable to inform the doctor about any supplements that one is taking, even natural ones.

1. Xanthan Gum Can Cause Digestive Issues: Xanthan gum can upset the stomach. A study has found that when xanthan is consumed in higher doses, it increases the frequency of stools and causes soft stools. This was noticed among animals.

These effects are observed when a minimum of 0.54 ounces of xanthan is consumed. This quantity cannot be attained through typical food. The ability of xanthan gum to change gut bacteria is considered good.

Many prebiotics and soluble fibers tend to alter the gut bacteria and help in the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Further studies are needed to determine the prebiotic effect of xanthan gum.

2. Some People May Need to Avoid or Limit It: Xanthan gum is found to be safe among most people, but some individuals may have to avoid or limit Xanthan gum. Those who need to avoid Xanthan gum include:

  • Individuals With Allergies to Wheat, Corn, Soy, or Dairy Products: Xanthan gum is thought to be derived from sugar. Sugar may be obtained from many different sources, such as wheat, corn, soy, and dairy. Hence, individuals with severe allergies to these sources of sugars must avoid foods that contain xanthan gum.

  • Premature infants: Xanthan gum, which is thick, can be found in formula and breast milk, especially for premature infants. In severe cases, premature infants may develop a life-threatening condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. This condition causes inflammation of the intestine, damage, and then it starts to die. Thick xanthan gum is safe only for adults, and this should be avoided in infants as the digestive system develops.

  • Individuals Under Certain Medications or Planning for Surgery: Xanthan gum can reduce blood sugar levels. Hence, it should be avoided among those on diabetic medications. The reason is that it can lower blood sugar levels, along with the action of diabetic medication. This causes severe low blood sugar levels, posing complications. It may be found to be dangerous for those who are planning to undergo surgery.

Conclusion:

Xanthan gum is an additive added to food. It is used to thicken or stabilize the food. It has many uses in achieving health benefits when consumed in large amounts. It can also cause some problems related to digestion. Hence it becomes important to know about xanthan gum, how it is manufactured, and its benefits and risks. Knowing about it may help to make use of this properly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Xanthan gum is a food additive that, when consumed in excess, can cause digestive issues. Consumption of up to 15 gms. of xanthan gum daily is considered safe. Some side effects include flatulence (intestinal gas) and bloating. Exposure to xanthan gum powder can cause nose and throat irritation, flu-like symptoms, and lung problems. The human digestive system finds it difficult to digest xanthan gum, providing no beneficial nutrients or calories. 
Xanthan gum is an additive added to food and a common ingredient in processed foods. It is manufactured from a carbohydrate like sucrose or glucose and fermented with the help of a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. Xanthan gum is a stabilizer, emulsifier, and binder in food products. This food additive is not readily available in nature.
From the results obtained from oral toxicity studies, xanthan gum (E415) can be considered non-toxic. A study conducted in mice with melanoma (a tumor of melanin-forming cells) found that xanthan gum retarded the growth of tumors and prolonged life span. There are no human studies for this finding, hence the current evidence needs to be more sufficient. Xanthan gum is found to be beneficial in regulating blood sugar levels and is helpful in people with a swallowing disorder.
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide manufactured through aerobic fermentation of Xanthomonas campestris bacteria. It contains a β-1,4- glycosidic bond-linked main chain and a trisaccharide side chain consecutively containing mannose, glucuronic acid, and mannose. It is considered safe and produced from bacteria obtained from plants. It contains no chemical substance and is used as a food additive.
Alternatives to xanthan gum include chia seeds and water, psyllium husk (manufactured from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds), cornstarch, ground flax seeds and water, unflavored gelatin, egg whites, guar gum, agar agar, konjac powder (obtained from konjac root and also called glucomannan), and arrowroot flour.
Xanthan gum cannot be found in nature and is manufactured from natural substances. It is manufactured from a carbohydrate like sucrose or glucose and fermented with the help of a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. This bacteria is found on the surfaces of leaves of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, rutabaga, and turnip. The fermented bacteria is dried and ground into powder form.
Consumption of up to 15 gms. of xanthan gum daily is considered safe. There is a controversy over the consumption of xanthan gum since high doses can cause digestive issues like soft stools, flatulence (intestinal gas), and increased stool output. Since it is a binding agent, the body finds breaking down the intact molecules difficult. It is also said to cause migraines, skin, nose, and throat irritations, and exposure to xanthan gum powder can cause flu-like symptoms.
Xanthan gum cannot be readily obtained from nature. It is manufactured from a carbohydrate like sucrose or glucose and fermented with the help of a bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris. This bacteria is found on the surfaces of leaves of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, rutabaga, and turnip. The fermented bacteria is dried and ground into powder form.
Consumption of up to 15 gms. of xanthan gum daily is considered safe. Some side effects include soft stools, increased stool output, flatulence (intestinal gas), and bloating. It is also found to slow down the absorption of sugar from the gut. However, recent studies have shown that xanthan gum promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut. 
Xanthan gum is a food additive commonly used in sauces, dressings, ice cream, yogurt, and gluten-free baked products. Food products use it as a stabilizer, emulsifier, and binder. It is also used in beauty and personal care products like toothpaste, creams, lotions, and shampoo. It is a component in industrial products like fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, paints, toilet bowl cleaners, etc. 
The purpose of xanthan gum in most recipes is to maintain structure and rise. Certain recipes can be prepared without xanthan gum using eggs, oil, or butter or using alternatives like corn starch, psyllium husk, guar gum, agar agar, etc. Corn starch is one of the readily available alternatives to xanthan gum. Omitting xanthan gum from a recipe can affect the thickness and viscosity as xanthan gum gives the recipe a good appearance and texture.
Chia seeds can replace xanthan gum in a 1:1 ratio. Two parts of hot water are added to 1 part of the chia seeds and stirred till the mixture turns viscous. Chia gel may require 10-15 minutes of baking time. Whole chia seeds are crunchy and have a mild nutty flavor, so they can be ground to obtain a smooth texture. Chia seeds form a gel similar to xanthan gum and contain more fiber and essential nutrients. 
Xanthan gum and guar gum are comparatively more substantial thickeners than cornstarch. Xanthan gum can be replaced with the same amount of cornstarch. Cornstarch is good because it is easily available and cheap compared to xanthan gum. The advantage of xanthan gum is that it gets fully hydrated quickly, is stable for extended periods, and consumes less product to turn viscous.
Consumption of up to 15 gms. of xanthan gum daily is considered safe. Some side effects include soft stools, increased stool output, flatulence (intestinal gas), and bloating. It is also found to slow down the absorption of sugar from the gut. However, recent studies have shown that xanthan gum promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut. 
Xanthan gum is approved as a food additive (E415) and is considered safe if consumed within the normal limit. It is considered safe in infants over 12 weeks and young children at levels recommended by the food industry, usually 1000 mg/L. Xanthan gums are part of a few infant formulas and are helpful in infants with swallowing difficulties or regurgitation. Since xanthan gums can cause digestive issues, it is not advisable in infants since their guts are immature and underdeveloped.
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Dr. Sugreev Singh from iCliniq
Dr. Sugreev Singh

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