Gellan Gum: Uses, Benefits, and Safety in Food Products

Gellan gum is a food additive discovered in the 1970s. It is a famous vegetarian gelling agent derived from the fermentation process of a specific bacteria, Sphingomonas elodea. It is used as a substitute for agar and gelatin and is found in a variety of processed foods, such as fortified plant milk, candy meats, jams, etc. Is it safe to use, and what are its major health benefits? 

This article deeply examines gellan gum, its uses, benefits, and safety profile to decide if it is good or bad for you. Keep reading for more details. However, if you are a guar gum lover, we have Now Foods Guar Gum for you. Visit us to buy it. 

What is gellan gum? 

Gellan gum is a food additive used to stabilise, bind, and texturise processed foods. It is similar to other gelling agents, such as xanthan gum, agar agar, carrageenan, and guar gum. It naturally grows on water lilies but can be artificially grown using fermented sugar and a particular strain of bacteria, Sphingomonas elodea.

Its efficacy in small amounts and its ability to produce clear and heat-stable gel makes it a popular replacement for other gelling agents. It is also a plant-derived substitute for gelatin and is a preferable choice for vegetarians and vegans. Gelatin, on the other hand, is obtained from the bones, cartilage, and skin of animals.  

Uses of gellan gum 

The unique properties of gellan gum make it effective for use in a variety of foods and dishes. Like the other gelling agents, it gives desserts a creamy texture and soft consistency and a filling effect to baked food. It reduces the risk of melting down, particularly when subjected to heat and is thus good for delicacies, e.g., flaming sorbet and creme brulee. 

It is also added to plant juices and fortified foods to stabilise the supplemented ingredients, e.g., calcium, and allow them to mix into the beverage properly rather than pooling at the bottom of the container. It also has pharmaceutical and medical applications for dental care, allergy relief, tissue regeneration, drug manufacturing, and bone repair. 

Gellan gum is found in a variety of foods. These common foods include 

Dairy products: These products include some unripened cheese, processed cheese, yoghurt, cream, and fermented milk. 

Confectioneries: These products include chewing gum, filling agents for baked goods, marshmallows, and candies. 

Beverages: These products include some alcoholic drinks, chocolate milk, and fortified plant-based juices and milk. 

Spreads and sauces: These products include sandwich spreads, custards, gravies, mustard, ketchup, and salad dressing. 

Packaged foods: These products include low-protein or gluten-free pasta, rolls, bread, potato gnocchi, some noodles, and breakfast cereals. 

Vegetable and fruit-based products: These products include some dried vegetables and fruits, jellies, jams, marmalades, and fruit purees. 

Other products: The miscellaneous products that contain gellan gum include condiments, broths, soups, fish roe, processed meats, and powdered syrups and sugars. 

As a plant-derived substitute for gelatin, it is particularly popular in vegan dishes and foods. It is commonly present in foods labelled as E418 or gellan gum. It is available separately under various brands, e.g., Kelcogel and Gelrite. Visit the local suppliers for more brands. We have sodium alginates and other phycopolysaccharides. Visit us to read our informative article. 

Gellan gum vs other gums

Gellan gum has many parallels with other food industry ingredients and gums. These include agar agar, xanthan gum, guar gum, and carrageenan. All these gums have their texture, mouth feel, viscosity, usage ratio, and other specific characteristics. For example; 

• The gelling properties of carrageenan and guar gum are different from those of gellan gum, and Xanthan gum is a common ingredient in gluten-free recipes.
• Compared to Xanthan gum and other gums, gellan gum has superior flavour, texture, spreadability, sheen, moisture retention, storage stability, and gelling properties. 
• Gellan gum has an additional ability to alginate and form a transparent gel that is able to withstand heat. 
• Gellan gum is thus a unique and versatile ingredient in the food industry. Its unique features make it a distinct ingredient in many food applications. 
• Its nontoxic properties and ability to form heat resistant and has increased its use in non-food and food applications.

Safety of Gellan gum

Since its discovery, the safety of Gellan gum has been the focus of comprehensive research. Most studies have found it safe for human consumption without any significant negative health effects. The Food and Drug Administration has granted it the status of Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS), and it is authorised for use in food products in Europe and the USA. The major safety concerns are;

Laxative effects

There are no reported health benefits of Gellan gum, but some people have experienced laxative effects due to regular use. This effect is, however, mild and must not be a cause of concern for most people who consume gellan gum-based products. 

Due to its safety as a food additive, it has gained widespread industrial use and has demonstrated its adaptability and safety in the food world. 

Gellan gum and non-food industries 

Besides its use in the food industry, gellan gum has been found to have numerous uses in the non-food and pharmaceutical industries. These include tissue culturing due to its ability to form heat-resistant, nontoxic and transparent gels and in pharmaceutical industries due to its ability to serve as an ocular drug delivery system. 

These uses in the non-food industries show their potential and unique abilities for innovation and application in various fields. 

Potential uses and health benefits of Gellan gum 

There are many health benefits of Gellan gum, but only a few are backed by scientific research and backing. For example;

Constipation relief

Scientific evidence suggests that gellan gum helps relieve constipation by causing foods to move more smoothly through the digestive tract and adding bulk to the food. Although the scientific studies are outdated and smaller, they do offer mixed results, which indicate that the digestive health benefits are individual-specific.  

Lower cholesterol levels & other health benefits

Likewise, many other gums provide other benefits, e.g., lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, appetite control, and weight loss, and many people believe that gellan gum offers these benefits, too. However, very few scientific studies have explored these benefits of Gellan gum, and the available studies have yet to report any significant improvements. Therefore, we recommend more research on the topic. 

Potential side effects and safety in various food products 

Gellan gum is considered to be safe. Some animal studies have linked chronic intake of Gellan gum at higher doses to abnormalities in the gut lining. Other studies on this topic have found no important side effects. 

In another three-week study published in the Food Additives & Contaminants in 1988, people used up to 30 times more gellan gum than present in the normal diet per day and didn't experience any adverse effects. However, as it slows down digestion in many people, it is advised to be cautious and practice moderation while using it. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How is gellan gum used in the food industry? 

Food gums are natural polysaccharides that increase the viscosity of solutions, even at very small concentrations. In the food industry, gellan gum is used as a stabiliser, emulsifying agent, gelling agent, clarifying agent, and thickening agent. 

What are the various functional properties of gellan gum? 

Versatile texture is one of the most extraordinary features of gellan gum. It is defined in terms of elasticity (a measure of rubberiness), brittleness (the strain needed to break the given gel), modulus (a measure of firmness of the gel), and hardness (a measure of the rupture strength of the gel). 

Are gums safe to use in food? 

The answer is both yes and no. Many gums are plant-sourced, although gellan gum comes from plant sources. Various studies have noted harmful effects in humans ranging from increased risk of infections to bloating and other types of digestive comfort. 

Has gellan gum biodegradable properties? 

Yes, gellan gum is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. It forms a stable and transparent hydrogel. The physical and mechanical properties of this hydrogel are similar to those of normal human tissues under specific circumstances. 

What is the difference between guar gum and gellan gum? 

Guar gum lacks gel-forming abilities but has an extraordinarily high viscosity even at a very low concentration. The gellan gum, on the other hand, forms a better gel but lacks intrinsic stability and toughness. 

How much gellan gum should be used daily? 

If it is used as a recipe in various dishes, concentrations in the range of 0.2-1% must be looked for. It is advisable to use a smaller amount in the beginning and increase the amount slowly as one reaches the desired texture according to the given recipe.  

Bottom-line 

Gellan gum is a food additive that is found in various types of processed foods. There are many reported benefits, and it helps fight constipation in many people; most of the reported benefits are not supported by scientific research. However, it is safe for regular use, and as it is used in moderate quantities in most of the products, it is not likely to cause any serious effects. 

Locust bean gum is another edible gum that is a natural polysaccharide used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. We have summarised its uses, risks, and benefits in an article. Visit us to read it. For those who love Xanthan Gum, NOW Foods Xanthan Gum Pure Powder is a useful product. Visit us to buy it.