E410 (Locust bean gum) is a hydrocolloidal bipolymer polysaccharide belonging to the galactomannan group, obtained from the carob plant, Ceratonia siliqua, which is widespread mainly in Mediterranean regions.
It appears in the form of a whitish powder that is poorly soluble in cold water.
What it is used for and where
It is the ground endosperm of the seeds of carob strains and contains mannose and galactose.
Food
Ingredient included in the list of European food additives as E410 as a thickening agent.
Safety
The EFSA Panel on Food Additives considered Locust Bean Gum to be non-acute toxic based on the results of acute oral toxicity studies and did not find any data of concern regarding genotoxicity and toxicity and for these reasons considered an Acceptable Daily Intake as a reference value of 1400 mg/kg bw/day. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for the general population during the refined exposure assessment for the reported uses of LBG (E 410) as a food additive (1).
