Xanthan Gum
What Is Xanthan Gum?
Xanthan gum is a carbohydrate-based ingredient produced through fermentation. It is made when specific bacteria ferment sugars, creating a substance that can then be processed into the powdered ingredient used in foods.
In food production, xanthan gum is commonly used because it can help thicken foods, improve texture, and keep mixtures more stable. FDA regulations identify xanthan gum as a direct food additive used for functions including stabilizing, emulsifying, thickening, and improving body or texture
Why Is It Used in Food?
Xanthan gum can serve several purposes depending on the product.
It may be used to:
Thicken foods and beverages
Help maintain a smooth, consistent texture
Help ingredients stay evenly distributed
Support stability and reduce separation
Improve body or mouthfeel
Support certain processing or formulation needs
FDA consumer guidance includes xanthan gum among stabilizers, thickeners, binders, and texturizers used to create a more uniform texture and improve mouthfeel.
Where Might You See It?
Xanthan gum may appear in foods such as:
Salad dressings
Sauces
Bakery fillings
Puddings
Frozen desserts
Dairy products
Jams and jellies
Some baked goods
Other packaged foods where texture or stability is important
FDA specifically notes uses in foods including salad dressings, chocolate milk, bakery fillings, and puddings.
What to Know
The word “gum” in xanthan gum refers to the way the ingredient behaves in food, not chewing gum.
Its main value is functional: it can change thickness, texture, stability, or how evenly ingredients remain distributed.
Like many food ingredients, xanthan gum may serve more than one purpose in the same product. In one food it may mainly act as a thickener, while in another it may help stabilize the product or support texture. FDA’s ingredient inventory lists several technical functions for xanthan gum, including stabilizer, thickener, texturizer, emulsifier, and formulation aid.
Food Literacy Tip
When you see an ingredient like xanthan gum, try asking:
“Is this ingredient helping with texture, thickness, or stability?”
That can give you a more useful way to understand why it may be included in a food.
Explore More Ingredients
Found another ingredient on a food label that you want to understand?
Explore the NCF Ingredient Index to learn what ingredients are, why they may be used in foods, and how they fit into the bigger picture of food information.
Sources
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
Types of Food Ingredients — lists xanthan gum as an example of a stabilizer, thickener, binder, and texturizer used to create uniform texture and improve mouthfeel.
FDA — Types of Food IngredientsUnderstanding How the FDA Regulates Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients — identifies xanthan gum as a direct food additive used to add texture and gives examples of foods in which it may be used.
FDA — Understanding How FDA Regulates Food AdditivesSubstances Added to Food: Xanthan Gum — FDA ingredient inventory entry listing technical functions including stabilizer/thickener, texturizer, emulsifier, formulation aid, and others.
FDA — Xanthan Gum Ingredient Entry
