Alternate Names

Acacia Gum, Chaar Gund, Char Goond, Meska

Description

A natural gum made from the sap of the acacia tree which is native to countries throughout Africa and the Middle East.

Additional Information

This gum, in addition to other types of treatment, has been used as a form of renal replacement therapy to help people with end-stage renal failure (kidney failure). It is an alternative to the standard dialysis treatment.

Found In

beverages, candy, frosting, dairy products, ice cream, chewing gum, marshmallows, cake decorations, gumdrops, gelatin and pudding desserts, nut products, hard candy, cough drops,

Possible Health Effects

May cause hypersensitivity and allergic disorders (hay fever, asthma, dermatitis).

Allergy Information

May cause allergic reaction in sensitive individuals

Online Resources/Related

• US Food and Drug Administration, Code of Federal Regulations Title 21: Acacia (gum arabic), Revised April 1, 2009, US Food and Drug Administration
• Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, The Use of Acacia Gum in End Stage Renal Failure, October 2007, Al Mosawi AJ.
• Journal of Allergy, Vol 20, Issue 5, The Vegetable Gums by Ingestion in the Etiology of Allergic Disorders, September 1949, Gelfand, H

Print Resources

• Winter, Ruth. A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods. Three Rivers Press, 2009
• Statham, Bill. Eat Safe: The Truth about Additives from Aspartame to Xanthan Gum. Running Press, 2008
• Minich, Deanna M. An A-Z Guide to Food Additives: Never Eat What You Can't Pronounce. Conari Press, 2009
• Farlow, Christine Hoza, D.C.Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not. KISS For Health Publishing, 2007 Revised Edition

Copyright September 5, 2010 Be Food Smart