E412ThickenerStabiliser
What Is E412? Guar Gum and Where It Is Used
E412 is the additive number of guar gum, a thickener made from the seed of the guar plant. It is used most in ice cream, cakes and sauces.
- In the Besin database
- 582 products
- About 5 in every 100 products
- Source
- Plant-based
- Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
- No numerical value set
What does E412 do?
It binds water and thickens. In ice cream it limits the growth of ice crystals, in sauces it stops separation, and in gluten-free and other baked goods it supports the dough structure.
How is it made?
Made by grinding the inner part of the seeds of the guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), grown in India and Pakistan.
Vegan and halal: Made from a plant seed; it suits vegan and vegetarian diets.
Which products contain E412?
582 of the 11,663 packaged products in the Besin database list E412 (Guar gum) in their ingredients. The categories where it appears most often:
- Single-Serve Ice Cream172 products
- Tub Ice Cream103 products
- Mini Cakes32 products
- Noodles22 products
- Frozen Desserts and Cakes14 products
- Flavoring Sauce14 products
Numbers as of the database snapshot of October 18, 2026.
Official evaluation
EFSA re-evaluated guar gum in 2017 and concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI and no safety concern for the general population. It recommended watching for abdominal discomfort in infants and young children.
Food additives are regulated by the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693). The ADI is the amount estimated to be safe to take every day over a lifetime, given per kilogram of body weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is guar gum fibre?
Guar gum is a water-soluble fibre; it reaches the gut undigested, where bacteria ferment it.
Is E412 gluten-free?
Guar gum comes from the guar seed and contains no gluten. It is often used to give structure to gluten-free bread and cakes.
Which products contain E412 most often?
In the Besin database it appears most often in single-serve and tub ice creams, mini cakes, noodles and sauces.
Related additives
Sources
- EFSA (2017): Re-evaluation of guar gum (E412)
- the EU food additives regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) and, in Türkiye, the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (Official Gazette, 30.06.2013, No. 28693)
Last reviewed: . This page is for information only and is not medical advice. To report a mistake, write to iletisim@besin.app.