Since its discovery more than three decades ago, gellan gum has become a common additive in the food, beverage, personal care, industrial cleaners and paper-production markets, especially over the past 15 years. According to KP Celco, today the leading global producer of gellan gum, some of its primary functions and uses include: Helping form gel-like consistency within substances Helping prevent settling or separating within food and industrial products Texturizing, stabilizing or binding food ingredients together in a uniform way Helping with elasticity, structuring and suspension Preventing ingredients from changing form due to temperature changes Providing a gel base in cellular experiments performed in petri dishes As an alternative to gelatin in vegan food products In cosmetics and beauty products to provide a smooth feeling In gastronomy cooking (especially desserts) to keep ingredients from melting And various others uses, including film-forming
So what is gellan gum exactly?
It’s a food additive produced through bacterial fermentation using a sugar source, which provides a source of energy for the bacteria to consume. Gellan gum is considered to be valuable and unique in manufacturing due to its capability of creating fluid, gel solutions that have weak structures, a characteristic that’s important for structuring and adding “creaminess.”
It also has a preferable setting temperature and tends to keep its stability/structure even when temperatures change or increase. In other words, it has a high “degree of thermal stability” (some studies show it’s able to withstand temps up to 120°C/248°F).
Gellan gum’s uses are similar to those of locust bean gum, guar gum and xanthan gum — all similar products used to help bind, stabilize and texturize products (especially foods). While it’s best to only use stabilizers and emulsifiers in small amounts only on occasion, the addition of a tiny serving of gellan gum to recipes like yogurt or desserts can help produce a smooth finished product.
Reference:
Cinogel Biotech,Available at:http://www.cinogel.com/
