Other names for the additive (synonyms)
General Information
Food additive E413 — tragacanth (tragacanth gum) — a natural polysaccharide used in the food industry primarily as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier. Additive E413 helps give products the desired consistency, improves texture, and prevents ingredient separation.
Tragacanth has a natural origin. Additive E413 is obtained from the hardened resin of certain species of the Astragalus plant, which grow mainly in the Middle East, Turkey, Iran, and neighboring regions.
Tragacanth has been known since ancient times: it was mentioned by ancient Greek scholars as a valuable medicinal resin. For centuries, tragacanth was transported from Persia along the “Silk Road” as a precious base for medicines, dyes, and cosmetics, and in the 20th century it became a standard thickener in the food industry.
From a chemical perspective, additive E413 is a heteropolysaccharide consisting of a soluble fraction (tragacanthin) and an insoluble but highly swelling fraction (bassorin). Since tragacanth is a natural mixture, it does not have a single defined chemical formula. The structure of additive E413 can be described as a mixture of polysaccharides with repeating monosaccharide units (L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-xylose, and L-fucose). The generalized formula of the main polymer chain is (C6H10O5)n.
Additive E413 appears as a light powder or small flakes without a distinct odor or taste. It swells well in water and forms thick colloidal solutions, remaining stable across a wide range of temperatures and acidity.
For the needs of the food industry, additive E413 is obtained by collecting the hardened resin (exudate) from cuts of wild astragalus bushes. The collected raw material is cleaned of mechanical impurities, dried, and ground into a fine powder. The resulting product then undergoes further purification and quality control to meet food safety standards.
Effects on the Body
Benefit of Additive E413
Tragacanth is not an essential nutrient for humans, but it is considered a relatively safe food ingredient.
Additive E413 is a natural polysaccharide and acts in the body similarly to soluble dietary fiber. It is practically not absorbed in the digestive tract but is partially fermented by gut microflora, which may help maintain a healthy microbiota balance.
According to the 2017 re-evaluation, an expert panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that additive E413 has very low toxicity and is safe when used in permitted quantities in food products.
Studies have shown that tragacanth, as a natural prebiotic, supports healthy gut flora and stimulates peristalsis. Due to its ability to adsorb liquids and toxins, additive E413 aids in detoxification and creates a prolonged feeling of fullness, which is beneficial for appetite control.
Experiments on rats demonstrated that oligosaccharides from tragacanth reduce hyperglycemia levels and markers of oxidative stress in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model, affecting glucose metabolism and redox processes in animal bodies.
Risks of Additive E413
In normal dietary amounts, tragacanth does not pose a health risk.
A clinical trial showed that daily consumption of 9.9 g of tragacanth for 21 days was well tolerated and did not cause adverse effects in volunteers.
According to the JECFA conclusions, additive E413 is classified as safe for general use, and no numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI) has been established.
Uses
In the food industry, additive E413 is used as a highly effective natural emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer, providing a uniform texture to products.
Due to its unique acid resistance, additive E413 is indispensable in the production of sauces, mayonnaise, marinades, and fruit fillings, where other gums lose their properties.
Additive E413 is widely used in the production of marmalade, chewy candies, various glazes, and stable confectionery creams, as it provides exceptional plasticity for creating fine decorative elements and effectively prevents sugar crystallization and ingredient separation, ensuring a homogeneous structure and prolonged product appearance.
Beyond the food industry, additive E413 is actively used in pharmaceuticals as a binder for tablets and a stabilizer for suspensions, as well as in cosmetics for making creams and gels with a smooth consistency.
Legal Status
Food additive E413 is permitted for use in many countries worldwide.
It is included in the list of authorized food additives in the European Union according to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives.
In Ukraine, tragacanth is also allowed for use in food products according to standards harmonized with European norms.
In the USA, this substance has GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status, meaning it is recognized as safe when used within established technological limits. It has a similar status in Canada.