Xanthan gum: how it is made, whether it is safe, and the infant caution

Fermentation-derived thickener and stabilizer · Also known as: Xanthan gum, Xanthan, E415, Xanthomonas campestris polysaccharide · Reviewed Sep 19, 2026 · 9 sources

Where xanthan gum is allowed

What is xanthan gum?

Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide, meaning a long-chain carbohydrate. EFSA describes it as produced by pure-culture fermentation of a carbohydrate with strains of Xanthomonas campestris, a bacterium naturally found on cabbages. The US regulation adds that the strain must be nonpathogenic and nontoxic, the finished additive must be free of viable cells, and it is purified by recovery with isopropyl alcohol.

Why it's used, and where you'll find it

Xanthan gum thickens liquids, keeps particles suspended and helps stop emulsions such as salad dressings from separating; the US regulation lists its roles as stabilizer, emulsifier, thickener, suspending agent, bodying agent and foam enhancer. EU rules list some uses specific to gluten-free foods. In cosmetics it acts as a thickener and emulsion stabilizer.

• salad dressings and sauces
• gluten-free baked goods
• dairy products and ice cream
• instant thickeners for people with swallowing difficulty
• cosmetics such as lotions and gels

What the research and regulators say

What EFSA concluded

EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation found no need for a numerical acceptable daily intake and no safety concern for the general population, including for special medical purpose foods for infants and young children (infants under 12 weeks were outside that assessment). A 2023 follow-up for infants under 16 weeks eating such foods also found no safety concerns; because the clinical studies were of low validity, the panel relied on neonatal piglet studies. ^{[4, 5]}

The laxative effect

In large amounts xanthan gum behaves like a bulk laxative. EFSA cites adult studies at about 10 to 15 grams a day, far above typical food use; at 15 grams a day for at least ten days, stool output, frequency and flatulence rose significantly. EFSA called adult intakes up to 15 grams a day well tolerated, but noted some abdominal discomfort, which it considered undesirable but not adverse. ^[4]

Thickened feeds for premature infants

In May 2011 the FDA advised against feeding SimplyThick, a thickener sold to help with swallowing difficulties, to infants born before 37 weeks. The alert, relayed by the CDC, cited 17 reports of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal condition, including five deaths, in premature infants fed the product mixed into breast milk or formula. A later paper by FDA scientists reviewed 22 cases and described the product as xanthan gum-containing. EFSA's 2017 summary of that paper reports that seven of the 22 infants died, that some lots were recalled, and that FDA later cautioned that infants of any age may face increased risk if fed the product. When it issued the alert, FDA said it did not know how the product might contribute to NEC or whether other thickening agents might too. EFSA noted that the cases were not related to xanthan gum used as an additive in infant formula manufacture, and that the doses involved were expected to be in gram amounts. The warning concerned one particular product used to thicken feeds for fragile babies, not xanthan gum in ordinary foods. ^{[4, 6, 9]}

In cosmetics

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel's 2012 final report concluded that xanthan gum, along with the other microbial polysaccharide gums it reviewed (34 in all), is safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics. The report notes xanthan gum is used in almost every category of cosmetic product, at up to 6 percent in leave-on formulations. ^[7]

Who might choose to avoid it

People who notice gas, bloating or loose stools after foods or supplements with a lot of xanthan gum may want to cut back. Caregivers of premature or very young infants should follow their baby's medical team on thickeners. This is not medical advice.

How to spot it on a label

Look for 'xanthan gum' in the ingredient list; in the EU it is E415. On cosmetics it appears as 'Xanthan Gum', sometimes in related forms such as hydroxypropyl xanthan gum.

Frequently asked questions

Related ingredients

• Carrageenan
• Soy lecithin
• Maltodextrin

This page summarizes what regulators and published research say, as of the review date above. Rules and evidence change; check the linked sources for the latest. It is general information, not medical advice — talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health.