Locust bean gum
A natural thickener from carob tree seeds, used to give foods a smooth, creamy texture and stop ice crystals forming.
What is it?
Locust bean gum (also called carob gum) is a plant-based polysaccharide extracted from the ground endosperm of carob tree seeds (Ceratonia siliqua). It belongs to the galactomannan family of gums, the same broad class as guar gum. The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean and has been cultivated for thousands of years.
What does it do?
When dispersed in water it swells and forms a viscous gel. In food it thickens liquids, stabilises emulsions so fat and water do not separate, and inhibits ice crystal growth in frozen products. Unlike some gums it does not form a firm gel on its own but works synergistically with other hydrocolloids such as carrageenan and xanthan gum to produce firmer, smoother textures at lower combined doses.
Where you will see it
Most commonly found in ice cream and frozen desserts, cream cheese and processed cheese spreads, salad dressings, yogurt, chocolate milk drinks, low-fat dairy products, infant formula (subject to restrictions, see below), gluten-free baked goods, and some pet foods. On a UK ingredient label it appears as 'locust bean gum', 'carob gum', or 'E410'.
What the science says
General safety profile for adults and children
EFSA's re-evaluation in 2017 concluded that locust bean gum did not raise a safety concern for the general population at the levels permitted and found in food. JECFA, the joint FAO/WHO expert committee, reached the same conclusion and set an ADI of 'not specified', meaning no numerical daily limit was considered necessary given the evidence available. The gum is largely indigestible and passes through the gut largely intact, acting in a similar way to dietary fibre.
EFSA's ANS Panel re-evaluated locust bean gum in 2017 and concluded it did not raise a safety concern for the general population at authorised and estimated dietary exposure levels.
JECFA allocated an ADI 'not specified' to locust bean gum, indicating no numerical limit was considered necessary based on the available toxicological data.
Restricted use in foods for very young infants
A 2023 EFSA follow-up opinion identified a concern specifically for infants below 16 weeks of age. A piglet study found reduced blood zinc levels at 1,400mg/kg body weight per day, and when estimated exposures from infant formula were assessed against this reference point, the margin of exposure was narrow for some scenarios. EFSA did not have enough data to conclude that use in formula for very young infants is without concern. Use in infant formula for infants below 16 weeks is therefore subject to stricter controls and data requirements in the EU and UK.
A reference point of 1,400mg/kg bw per day was identified from a piglet study showing reduced blood zinc. For infants below 16 weeks, estimated exposure from infant formula produced a margin of exposure that did not give comfort across all scenarios.
EFSA concluded there was insufficient toxicological data to complete a full safety assessment of E410 in foods intended for infants below 16 weeks of age.
Digestive and prebiotic effects
Because locust bean gum is not digested in the small intestine it reaches the colon where gut bacteria ferment it. This fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids and may alter the composition of the gut microbiome. The effects at normal food consumption levels are considered modest and broadly in line with those of other dietary fibres.
Galactomannans including locust bean gum are fermented by colonic bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids. The prebiotic potential is comparable to other soluble dietary fibres.
Where it stands with the regulators
Who should be careful
No population group is required to avoid it in mainstream foods. Parents choosing formula for infants below 16 weeks should note that EFSA flagged a data gap for this age group in 2023; it continues to be permitted but under closer regulatory review. Look for 'locust bean gum', 'carob gum', or 'E410' on infant formula labels.
The honest read
Locust bean gum is one of the most thoroughly reviewed food gums. For adults and older children, two independent bodies (JECFA and EFSA) looked at the evidence and set no numerical daily limit, treating it in the same category as ordinary dietary fibre. The one live question is narrowly scoped: EFSA in 2023 said it did not have enough data to be fully comfortable with its use specifically in formula for babies under 16 weeks. That is a genuine regulatory signal, not a dismissed concern. For everyone else, the picture is well-established and ordinary.
Related additives
Common questions
Is E410 banned in the UK?
No. Locust bean gum is approved for use in a wide range of foods in the UK under the assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008. Use in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age is subject to stricter requirements following a 2023 EFSA opinion, but it is not banned.
Is there any concern about E410 in baby formula?
EFSA published an opinion in 2023 saying it lacked sufficient data to complete a full safety assessment for infants below 16 weeks specifically. A piglet study identified reduced blood zinc at high doses and the margin between estimated infant exposures and that reference point was narrow in some scenarios. It remains permitted but under continued regulatory scrutiny for that age group.
What foods contain E410?
Ice cream, frozen desserts, cream cheese, processed cheese spreads, salad dressings, yogurt, chocolate milk drinks, gluten-free baked goods, and some infant formulas. On the label it appears as 'locust bean gum', 'carob gum', or 'E410'.
Is E410 vegan?
Yes. Locust bean gum is extracted entirely from the seeds of the carob tree and contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Sources
- EFSA ANS Panel: Re-evaluation of locust bean gum (E 410) as a food additive (2017)
- EFSA ANS Panel: Re-evaluation of locust bean gum (E 410) in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow-up for all population groups (2023)
- EFSA 2023 opinion full text via PMC
- EFSA 2017 opinion full text via PMC
- Mudgil D, Barak S. Composition, properties and health benefits of indigestible carbohydrate polymers as dietary fiber. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2013
- UK FSA Approved Additives and E Numbers
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 laying down specifications for food additives
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