Xanthan gum can be found in many foods, like yogurt and ice cream, plant and nut-based milks, baked goods, and Banza! While chickpeas are the first ingredient in each of our recipes, we use small amounts of Non-GMO Project Verified xanthan gum to bind our ingredients as we’ve found it helps Banza foods achieve a taste and texture most similar to the traditional versions. To note, our NGP verified xanthan gum is derived from corn, though there are no corn proteins present in the ingredient. That said, if you have a corn allergy, we recommend consulting your doctor before consuming Banza.
That said, we understand “xanthan gum” sounds a bit intimidating given its science-y name, and we also know this ingredient is occasionally flagged as a concern because some studies have found it can upset the stomach when consumed in extremely large quantities (which are far beyond what can be measured in Banza and most other foods). As such, we’d like to take this opportunity to provide some additional context and information:
• Xanthan gum is created through a fermentation process where a naturally occurring microorganism (or “starter"", like what’s used to make bread!) that grows on vegetables is used to ferment sugar.
• Food regulatory agencies worldwide have conducted extensive research on xanthan gum to verify its safety for human consumption. In doing so, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), along with USA regulatory authorities, have unanimously approved its use as a food additive. In fact, the EFSA concluded here that xanthan gum poses no safety concerns for the general population, therefore eliminating the need to establish a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI).
• Recent peer-reviewed studies have found that xanthan gum may offer positive impacts on human health, particularly in reducing the body's blood glucose response when added to specific starchy foods. While these potential benefits may very well extend to legume-based foods like Banza, our team feels further research is necessary to fully understand how these benefits apply to our products and to what extent.
At Banza, we make decisions about what goes into our products based on data from trusted regulatory agencies, and we can assure you that the usage levels of xanthan gum in our foods are well within acceptable consumption guidelines put forth by regulatory bodies or something – in fact, it would be nearly impossible to meet or exceed these limits by consuming Banza. We consistently lead with a thoughtful and deliberate approach when selecting each of our ingredients to ensure they are good for you, and for the planet! If you happen to have any additional resources or studies on xanthan gum that you’d like us to review, please feel free to share them here at info@eatbanza.com.
