What are emulsifiers? Is it healthy to consume them?

What are emulsifiers?

Emulsifiers are Food and Drug Administration–approved food additives that help products containing immiscible food ingredients, like oil and water, to combine.

How are natural emulsifiers used in foods and beverages?

Guar gum can be used to emulsify, thicken, and stabilize ingredients in food products, even those that require cold temperatures during manufacturing.

Gellan gum can also be used as a thickener, binder, and stabilizer. It stabilizes water-based gels, such as certain desserts and drinking jellies.

Carrageenan is commonly used in dairy and dairy-alternative products, particularly flavored milk and soy milk.

How do I know that emulsifiers are safe?

The FDA regularly and carefully reviews the safety of all food additives. Guar gum, gellan gum and carrageenan were approved for use in foods between the 1960s and 1970s by the FDA, and they currently have a Generally Recognized as Safe designation.