Loading…
Quick answer: Locust Bean Gum carries the heavier risk profile. Locust Bean Gum is allowed in the EU and allowed in the US; Polysorbate 80 is — in the EU and — in the US.
| Property | Locust Bean Gum | Polysorbate 80 |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | Allowed | — |
| US status | Allowed | — |
| Risk level | low | — |
| Banned in | — | — |
| Restricted in | — | European Union (ADI 25 mg/kg body weight per day), Australia |
| Category | additive | additive |
| Where it hides | Breyers Ice Cream, Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Stoneyfield Yogurt | — |
Locust bean gum (LBG) is a galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from the seeds of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), native to the Mediterranean. It is a fine white to yellow powder that forms a thick gel when dissolved in hot water. It synergizes strongly with xanthan gum and carrageenan to enhance gel strength.
Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) is a synthetic nonionic surfactant and emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid (from vegetable oils) through ethoxylation. It is widely used in food to keep water-based and oil-based ingredients uniformly mixed. Chemical formula: polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate.
Locust Bean Gum: Generally recognized as safe. EFSA's Panel on Food Additives confirmed the safety of LBG in 2017, noting no concerns at current dietary exposures. It functions as a soluble dietary fiber and can have mild prebiotic effects. No significant adverse effects have been documented in human or animal studies at food-relevant doses.
Polysorbate 80: Emerging research has raised concerns about polysorbate 80's effects on the gut. A landmark 2015 study in Nature (Chassaing et al.) found that dietary polysorbate 80 and polysorbate 60 at concentrations approaching food use levels promoted colitis and metabolic syndrome in genetically susceptible mice by disrupting the intestinal mucus layer and altering gut microbiome composition. The emulsifiers thinned the protective mucus layer, allowing bacteria to come into closer contact with gut epithelial cells and triggering inflammation. This study was a seminal contribution to gut health research, though it was conducted in mice and requires confirmation in humans. A 2020 follow-up study found that dietary emulsifiers including polysorbate 80 promoted gut inflammation and altered gut microbiome in human participants with Crohn's disease. People with inflammatory bowel disease may be most vulnerable to polysorbate 80's potential gut effects.
Scan a barcode and we'll flag both Locust Bean Gum and Polysorbate 80 (plus 140+ other ingredients banned overseas).
Scan free →