Xanthan gum has great business significance in food and drink industry due to the fact that of its natural thickening, supporting and binding property. Xanthan gum is used in numerous foods, salads, baking and even in personal care products.
It is a natural polysaccharide which is produced by germs xanthomonas campestris. It is the same bacteria which is accountable for triggering black spots on cabbage.
Can You Be Allergic to Xanthan Gum?
Xanthan gum is an exopolysaccharide which is grown or fermented from the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris, the bacteria which cause black rot on cruciferous veggies such as brassicas.
The bacteria can be grown on corn, wheat, soya, whey or dairy products. After around 4 days the fermented ‘broth’ is pasteurised and after that dried to make a powder.
When liquid is contributed to a small quantity of this powder it forms a thick viscous syrup which is indispensable not only in gluten-free baking (where it mostly replaces the ‘gluey’ properties of gluten) however in a vast array of other food such as salad dressings, ice creams, sauces, frozen foods and beverages.
It was discovered by scientists at the USDA and first appeared in foodstuff in the 1960s.To prepare xanthun gum, bacteria is positioned in the growth medium for fermentation.
The growth medium is primarily sugar and other nutrients. The fermented item is cleansed, dried and made into powder to form final product called xanthan gum. Some individuals are understood to be allergic to xanthun gum.
Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide mainly formed by two units of glucose, two of mannose and one unit of glucuronic acid. It is thought about to be a food additive.
Although it is essentially emulsive in nature, xanthan gum is not categorized as an emulsifier. It is used in place of gluten. For that reason, it is used in many of the bakery products as an alternative for gluten, ice creams, tooth pastes, and so on.
Xanthan gum has properties to make the substance thick and constant. When it is mixed with liquids it binds and turns the item thick in consistency. The best part of xanthan gum is it keeps its consistency even at any offered temperature level.
Symptoms of Xanthan Gum Allergy
Xanthan gum is originated from many different substances such as corn, wheat and so on. The bacteria xanthomonas campestris is introduced in the medium which ferments the corn medium or other medium where it can grow.
So if you dislike xanthan gum stemmed from corn if you dislike corn. If you are allergic to gluten present in wheat, you may be at risk of struggling with allergic reaction if xanthan gum is originated from wheat. There are several symptoms of xanthan gum allergy.
- xanthan gum has mild laxative result. For that reason a person may struggle with bloating of abdominal area and diarrhea as a side effect of xanthan gum if he dislikes this compound.
- person might likewise experience digestive tract cramps after eating food which contains xanthan gum.
- he may likewise get headache.
- skin sores, especially rashes on skin with itching.
- running nose, sneezing, itching in throat and watering of eyes.
- breathing trouble and asthma like symptoms.
- swelling of lips and tongue.
- cough and hoarseness of voice.
Treatment for Xanthan Gum Allergy
An individual might unknown if he is allergic to xanthan gum, unless there is a previous history of such episode. If there is previous history of such symptoms, than he must prevent food preparations that contain xanthan gum. Typically the symptoms of allergic reaction are mild and decrease on its own after a time period.
However, in severe cases antihistamine medications and steroids may be handy to alleviate the symptoms. In more severe cases where the person experiences trouble in breathing need to call emergency department for the treatment. Doctors likewise prescribe calming lotions to ease skin inflammation.
There are numerous other alternatives that can be used in food if an individual dislikes xanthan gum. These alternative to example are guar gum, crushed flax seeds, cornstarch, arrowroot, gelatin etc.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend!
