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E413 Tragacanth – Food Additive

E413 is the EU code for tragacanth, a natural plant gum used as a thickener and stabilizer in a wide range of food products.

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Things worth knowing about "E413"

E413 is the EU code for tragacanth, a natural plant gum used as a thickener and stabilizer in a wide range of food products.

What is E413 (Tragacanth)?

E413 is the European Union designation for tragacanth, a natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of the plant genus Astragalus. These shrubs grow primarily in western Asia, particularly in Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Tragacanth is one of the oldest known thickening agents and has been used for centuries in the food industry, pharmacy, and cosmetics.

Origin and Production

Tragacanth is harvested by making incisions in the stems and roots of Astragalus shrubs. The sap that seeps out dries in the air to form hard, yellowish-white ribbons or flakes, which are then ground into a powder or granulate. As a purely plant-based product, tragacanth is inherently suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

Technological Properties and Uses

Tragacanth has excellent thickening properties even at very low pH levels and under heat, which distinguishes it from many other hydrocolloids. It is used in a wide variety of food products:

Salad dressings and sauces as a stabilizer and emulsifier
Baked goods and confectionery products (e.g., sugar paste, fondant)
Ice cream and desserts to improve texture
Sweets and chewing gum
Dietary foods and nutritional supplements

Outside the food industry, tragacanth is used in pharmaceuticals as a binder and excipient in tablets, in cosmetics as a gel-forming agent, and in the textile and printing industries.

Safety and Health Assessment

Tragacanth is considered safe for human consumption by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). It is not broken down in the digestive tract and is excreted unchanged, meaning it provides no significant calories. EFSA has determined that a specific acceptable daily intake (ADI) is not necessary, as no harmful health effects are known at typical consumption levels.

In rare cases, sensitive individuals may experience the following reactions:

Bloating and mild digestive discomfort at high consumption levels
Allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with known legume allergies (as Astragalus belongs to the legume family)
Occupational respiratory irritation upon intensive contact with the powder

Labelling and Regulation

In the European Union, E413 is an approved food additive and must be listed in the ingredients of food products either as E413 or as tragacanth. Its use is governed by EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives. In most application categories, the quantum satis principle applies, meaning it may be used in the amount technically necessary to achieve the desired effect.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of tragacanth (E 413) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2017.
European Parliament and Council of the EU: Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.
Phillips, G.O. & Williams, P.A. (eds.): Handbook of Hydrocolloids. Woodhead Publishing, 3rd edition, 2021.

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