Is Locust Bean Gum Gluten Free? The Facts You Need to Know

Gluten free diets are on the rise with more and more people opting to avoid gluten for health or dietary reasons. But navigating the world of gluten free ingredients can be tricky. One commonly used food additive that often raises questions is locust bean gum.

So is locust bean gum gluten free? The simple answer is yes locust bean gum is naturally gluten free. Locust bean gum also known as carob bean gum, is derived from the ground endosperm of carob seeds. It contains no gluten and is generally considered safe for gluten free diets (1).

Below we’ll take a closer look at what locust bean gum is, where it comes from, how it’s used in food production, and why it’s gluten free. We’ll also discuss any potential concerns surrounding locust bean gum for gluten free diets.

What is Locust Bean Gum?

Locust bean gum, also referred to as carob bean gum, is a natural food additive that comes from the seeds of the carob tree. The carob tree, scientifically known as Ceratonia siliqua, belongs to the pea family and is native to the Mediterranean region (2).

To make locust bean gum, the seeds are removed from carob pods. The seeds are then decorticated, which means the outer layer is removed. The inner part of the seed, known as the endosperm, contains a gum composed of two sugars – galactose and mannose. The endosperm is milled and ground to produce a powdered gum (3).

Locust bean gum is considered a galactomannan, meaning it contains both galactose and mannose sugars. It’s similar in structure to guar gum, another common food additive. However, locust bean gum only contains a 1:4 ratio of galactose to mannose. Guar gum contains a 1:2 ratio instead (4).

How is Locust Bean Gum Used?

Locust bean gum has several useful properties that make it a popular additive in food production. Here are some of its common uses:

• Thickening agent: One of the main uses of locust bean gum is as a thickening agent and stabilizer. It can help give body and texture to foods like ice cream, cream cheese, salad dressings, and sauces.

• Gelling agent: Locust bean gum can also act as a gelling agent. It helps certain foods set into a gel-like consistency, like in some puddings and custards.

• Emulsifier: As an emulsifier, locust bean gum helps keep a homogeneous texture in emulsified foods like mayonnaise, coffee creamers, and cheeses. This prevents separating or “breaking.”

• Binding agent: Locust bean gum is added to some meat and seafood products as a binder. It helps bind and retain moisture in foods like sausage, ham, crab cakes, and imitation crab.

• Anti-icing agent: A small amount of locust bean gum can help prevent ice crystals from forming in frozen desserts like ice cream. It slows down the recrystallization that occurs during storage.

• Yogurt production: In yogurt, locust bean gum helps improve the consistency and texture. It stabilizes and thickens yogurt to achieve the right mouthfeel.

Beyond food, locust bean gum also has pharmaceutical and industrial uses as a binding and thickening agent. But it’s most widely used as an additive in food manufacturing.

Is Locust Bean Gum Safe When Gluten Free?

Locust bean gum is generally considered gluten free and safe for gluten free diets. This is because it’s derived from the carob seed, not from any gluten-containing grains.

According to leading gluten intolerance organizations, including Beyond Celiac, Celiac Disease Foundation and Coeliac UK, locust bean gum is naturally gluten free (5)(6)(7). Even small amounts of gluten introduced during processing aren’t an issue because locust bean gum is refined to a highly purified form.

That said, there are two main considerations when it comes to locust bean gum and gluten safety:

1. Cross-contamination: As with any ingredient, there is a small risk of cross-contamination during harvesting, transportation or processing. Most brands that certify their products gluten free test locust bean gum to verify gluten free status. So check for a gluten free certification if concerned.

2. Quality of source material: Very rarely, substandard locust bean gum may be contaminated with seeds from other legumes that contain gluten. Again, choosing reputable gluten free brands can help avoid this rare issue.

As long as you choose quality-sourced locust bean gum and gluten free certified products when needed, locust bean gum is considered gluten free. Leading health organizations give it the green light for gluten free diets (8).

Locust Bean Gum on the Gluten Free Safe Foods List

Many organizations publish gluten free safe foods lists as a guide to identify gluten free ingredients. Locust bean gum is included on these authoritative safe foods lists, including:

• Celiac.com’s Safe Gluten Free Food List
• Celiac Disease Foundation’s Sources of Gluten
• Beyond Celiac’s What’s Gluten Free

So when you see locust bean gum on an ingredients label, you can feel confident it’s gluten free according to top gluten free resources.

Can Locust Bean Gum Cause Digestive Issues?

While locust bean gum is gluten free, some sources indicate it can potentially cause digestive problems in sensitive people if consumed in large amounts.

Locust bean gum is a fiber that resistant to digestion. Eating high amounts may cause excessive gas, bloating or cramping in some individuals (9).

However, the amounts of locust bean gum used in food processing are generally quite small and unlikely to cause issues. If you have a sensitive stomach and want to limit certain fibers, keep an eye on your overall locust bean gum intake from processed foods.

Otherwise, locust bean gum is typically well tolerated by most people when consumed in normal food amounts. Those following a gluten free diet don’t need to avoid it due to digestion concerns.

The Takeaway on Locust Bean Gum and Gluten

• Locust bean gum, also called carob bean gum, comes from the natural seeds of the carob tree – not from gluten grains.

• It’s used as a thickener, gelling agent, emulsifier, and binding agent in many processed foods.

• Locust bean gum is considered gluten free by reputable gluten intolerance groups and is on the safe foods lists.

• Check for “gluten free” certification on packaged foods if concerned about potential cross-contamination.

• It may cause some digestive upset in sensitive people if eaten in large amounts.

• Otherwise, locust bean gum is generally recognized as safe for gluten free diets when not contaminated.

Locust bean gum is a common and useful natural food additive that can be safely consumed on a gluten free diet, according to top gluten free resources. Following a well-balanced gluten free diet that includes a variety of nutritious whole foods is important for your health and well-being.

References

1. Thomas, K. C., Hofmekler, J., & Zervos, J. (2016). The role of celiac disease screening in familial risk setting. The application of clinical genetics, 9, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.2147/TACG.S84257

2. Battle, I., & Tous, J. (1997). Carob tree – Ceratonia siliqua. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.

3. Glicksman M. (1969). Gum technology in the Food Industry, pp. 590, Academic Press, New York.

4. Phillips, G. O., & Williams, P. A. (2009). Handbook of hydrocolloids (2nd ed.). Woodhead Publishing.

5. Celiac.com. (2021). Safe gluten-free food list (safe ingredients). https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/safe-gluten-free-food-list-safe-ingredients/

6. Celiac Disease Foundation. (2019). Sources of gluten. https://celiac.org/gluten-free-living/sources-of-gluten/

7. Beyond Celiac. (2021). What’s gluten free? https://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/whats-gluten-free/

8. Catassi, C., Fabiani, E., Iacono, G., D’Agate, C., Francavilla