E412 — Guar gum
E412 (Guar gum), a thickener, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. A natural thickener from guar bean. Common in gluten-free baking, ice cream, sauces, and yogurt. Acts as soluble fiber in the gut.
What is Guar gum?
A thickener and binder made from ground guar bean. The most common thickener in gluten-free baked goods, plus widely used in ice cream, sauces, yogurts, and salad dressings.
What does it do to the body?
Acts as soluble fiber that ferments in your gut, supporting beneficial bacteria. Eating too much in one go can cause gas or bloating. Otherwise no safety concern.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
Risk rating: Watch
Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.