My diet:

E416 Karaya gum

E416Thickeners & gumsOrigin: Plant
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VeganYes
Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoYes
Low-FODMAPDepends

It is a bulking fiber. Small amounts in ice cream are usually fine, but large servings can upset sensitive guts.

The short answer
Karaya gum (E416) is a tree gum that thickens ice cream, sauces and dressings without adding much flavor. It's vegan and gluten-free, but it is a bulking fiber, so large amounts can upset some stomachs.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE416
Comes fromPlant
What it doesThickeners & gums
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledE416, Sterculia gum

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved with limits
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Permitted in the US and Canada as a thickener and stabilizer. The EU allows it in set foods, with limits on where and how much.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Karaya is a sticky plant gum that swells in water. It is a complex sugar-based polymer that the body does not digest, so it adds body and stability to foods with very little taste. The same property makes it useful in some medical adhesives.

Where it comes from: Tapped from the trunks of Sterculia urens trees in India and Africa. The gum oozes out where the bark is cut, then it is dried and powdered.

Why it’s in food

  • Thickens ice cream and frozen desserts
  • Stabilizes salad dressings
  • Gives sauces a smooth, creamy body
  • Adds bulk to sugar-free and diet foods

Often found in

Ice creamSalad dressingsFlavored syrupsSaucesDiet bars

Also listed as: E416, Sterculia gum, Indian gum

Health & gut impact

DigestionUnder study

Karaya is a bulking fiber that passes through the gut largely unchanged. Large amounts can cause gas or loose stools, as most bulking fibers do.

NIH MedlinePlus, dietary fiber

Skin contactConcern

Rare allergic skin reactions have been reported in people who wear karaya-based ostomy adhesives. Eating the gum in food has not been linked to the same reaction.

Clinical reports on ostomy adhesives

What can I use instead?

Guar gum

Ratio: About 1:1 for thickening

Best for: Ice cream and cold sauces

Xanthan gum

Ratio: About half the weight

Best for: Stable dressings

Related

More thickeners & gums:

Agar-Agar E406Agar-agar (E406) is a seaweed gel that sets firmer than gelatin. It's safe, vegan, gluten-free, keto and kosher, and is the easiest plant swap for gelatin.Generally safeCalcium alginate (Seaweed salt) E404Calcium alginate (E404) is a seaweed-based gel that sets in cold liquid when it meets calcium. It's the basis of vegan spheres and cheese analogues. It's vegan, gluten-free and safe.Generally safeCarrageenan E407Carrageenan (E407) is a seaweed thickener in plant milks and deli meats. It's approved, but some studies link it to gut inflammation, so people with IBD often avoid it.Use in moderationCassia gum E427Cassia gum (E427) is a seed thickener, not cinnamon. Europe allows it in limited foods. In the US it is mainly a pet-food ingredient. Specs are strict because early batches carried impurities.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is karaya gum vegan?

Yes. It is tree sap with no animal ingredients.

Is karaya gum gluten-free?

Yes. It is a tree gum with no wheat, barley or rye.

Is Karaya gum safe?

Use in moderation (78/100). Permitted in the US and Canada as a thickener and stabilizer. The EU allows it in set foods, with limits on where and how much.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E416
  • NIH MedlinePlus, dietary fiber
  • Clinical reports on ostomy adhesives

INS 416