By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
\nVRG Research Director<\/p>\n
The VRG noticed \u201cgellan gum\u201d listed on the ingredient statements of several popular non-dairy beverages including Tree of Life\u00ae, Silk\u00ae and Pacific\u00ae products.<\/p>\n
We asked KeHE\u00ae the parent company of Tree of Life\u00ae about its Vanilla Almond Beverage. We received a call back from a KeHE\u00ae customer service representative (KeHE\u00ae is the parent company) in August 2013 that the gellan gum in their almond beverage \u201c\u2026is not made of animal products\u2026gellan gum is made from a bacterial culture [and] used as a thickening agent\u2026It is a non-GMO product.\u201d The ingredient statement can be seen here: http:\/\/www.iherb.com\/Tree-of-Life-Unsweetened-Vanilla-Almond-Beverage-32-fl-oz-946-ml\/42622<\/a><\/p>\n Silk\u00ae lists gellan gum as an ingredient in its almondmilks. A Silk\u00ae customer service representative told us on the phone in August 2013 that their almondmilk products are often described as \u201cvegan.\u201d The website states that their almondmilks are \u201cfree of dairy, soy, lactose, gluten, casein, egg and MSG.\u201d http:\/\/silk.com\/products\/vanilla-almondmilk#<\/a><\/p>\n Pacific\u00ae states on its website FAQ page that \u201cGellan gum is an all-natural ingredient approved for use in organic products. It is obtained through a natural fermentation process. It acts as a thickening agent and will bind water. We add it to our beverages to keep water from separating out and forming a layer on top of the beverage.\u201d Pacific\u00ae offers several non-dairy beverages containing gellan gum: http:\/\/www.pacificfoods.com\/food\/non-dairy-beverages\/nut-grain-beverages\/all-natural-hazelnut-original.aspx<\/a>. The United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s National Organic Program under the recommendation of the National Organic Standards Board added gellan gum (high-acyl form only) in 2010 to its National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances approved for use in organic foods and beverages: http:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/fdsys\/pkg\/FR-2010-12-13\/pdf\/2010-31196.pdf<\/a>. This means that gellan gum can be an ingredient in a USDA Organic- or USDA Made with Organic Ingredients-labeled food or beverage product even if the gellan gum is not USDA-certified organic. Its listing is located in section \u00a7 205.605 Nonagricultural (nonorganic) substances allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as \u201corganic\u201d or \u201cmade with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))\u201d of the following document: http:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/cgi-bin\/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=6f623e1de5457587ccdfec12bc34ed1c&rgn=div5&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32&idno=7<\/a>.<\/p>\n The VRG contacted CP Kelco the leading manufacturer of gellan gum for more information about its manufacturing process. We were told on the phone by a customer service specialist that gellan gum \u201c\u2026is produced by bacterial fermentation\u2026on corn syrup\u2026it is a non-GMO product.\u201d A statement provided to us by CP Kelco reads in part:<\/p>\n CP Kelco\u2019s\u2026gellan gum\u2026[is] not considered \u201cbioengineered food\u201d as defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration\u2019s proposed rule governing such foods.<\/p>\n CP Kelco\u2019s\u2026gellan gum [is] produced by fermentation. CP Kelco\u2019s products offermentation are produced using bacteria that have not been genetically modified as defined in EU Directive 2001\/18. No raw materials produced from or by GMO have been used for standardizing the ready-to sell product.<\/p>\n A product information sheet provided to The VRG by CP Kelco describes gellan gum as \u201csuitable\u201d for those on vegetarian or vegan diets. Food grade and personal care gellan gum products manufactured by this company are certified kosher and halal.<\/p>\n