People often search for the benefits of gum arabic. This page sticks to the facts about what it is and how it is used, rather than making health claims. It is general information, not medical or dietary advice.
Why the food industry values it
Gum arabic is prized because it does several practical jobs at once and is a single, natural, plant ingredient:
- It dissolves fully in water and leaves no taste, colour or grit.
- It works as a natural emulsifier and stabiliser (E414).
- It is plant based, and suitable for vegan and vegetarian and halal products.
- It is a source of soluble dietary fibre.
Gum arabic as a fibre
Gum arabic is almost entirely soluble dietary fibre. UK government advice is that adults should eat around 30 g of fibre a day, and surveys show most people in the UK eat well under that. Because acacia gum dissolves clear and has no taste, it is one of the easier ways to add soluble fibre to food and drink. As with any change in fibre intake, it makes sense to increase the amount gradually.
You can read more on our acacia fibre page.
A long history of use
Gum arabic has been harvested and used for thousands of years, and in Sudan it has long been a household staple dissolved in water. It is an approved food additive with a very long record of safe use.
Where ours comes from
We supply grade one Sudanese gum arabic in the UK. See what is gum arabic for the full background, or wholesale for trade supply.
Questions about gum arabic?
Message us and we will come back to you, usually within two working days. We supply grade one acacia gum (E414) in the UK, in trade quantities from a single 25 kg bag.
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