Xanthan Gum

[Heather Smith 0]

I see this quite a bit in certain sauces, etc. I know its a thickening agent, made from fermenting glucose or some other sugar. But I know guar gum has the ok and its a thickening agent as well. However, its made from beans. Thanks!

[Robin Strathdee 2914]

I'm not sure about the process, but yep, Xanthan gum is fine :0)

[ethnomusicolog3 7]

...

[Maiasaura 4]

OMG I am one happy camper, now. Just finished baking chicken wings, and the only hot sauce I have in the house has xanthan gum in. YAY, I can have my hot wings!

[vkarnowski 8]

I read that Xantham gum is a form of polysaccharide...are we SURE this is whole30 friendly?

[Robin Strathdee 2914]

You're over-thinking. Biochemistry is complicated. We promise it's okay.

[mazen94122 0]

In this old whole9 article, the author lists polysaccharide as a sugar to avoid
http://whole9life.com/2010/06/sugar-sugar-sugar/

[praxisproject 1930]

The list in that link is about labels.

 

On labels Xanthan Gum is generally called Xanthan Gum.

Polysaccharide on a label means it contains sugar (which would not be W30 compliant). 

Many people are fooled by weird names for sugar that they don't recognise or is confusing.

[carlaarend 6]

So it is not OK then?

[GFChris 5983]

So it is not OK then?

 

Xantham gum is ok on a Whole30. http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/22297-im-soooooooooooo-confused-about-ingredients/

[carlaarend 6]

Xantham gum is ok on a Whole30. http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/22297-im-soooooooooooo-confused-about-ingredients/

 

Thank you very much! 

[akbuckey 0]

phew! I have been staying away from this!! But, this is good to know!! Thank you!

[lllusion 6]

http://www.treehugger.com/health/emulsifiers-are-wreaking-havoc-our-digestive-tracts.html

 

What's the thinking re. emulsifiers--and thus xanthan gum?

[AtlantaJJ 18]

So my fav salad dressing is Whole 30 approved!
 

Ingredients: canola oil, water, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, salt, garlicpuree (garlic, citric acid), spices, mustard flour, xanthan gum, mixedtocopherols (antioxidant -- vitamin e).

Real French Vinaigrette | Sugar Free Salad Dressing | Briannasas

 

I plan to go easy on the canola oil, but it's good to know i can use then I find myself in a jam.

[laura_juggles 521]

As you mentioned with the canola oil, this isn't compliant for in-home use. If you were out at a restaurant and this dressing was an option for your salad, then it would be okay. Based on what's in it, though, it would be super easy to mix up something similar in a blender using compliant ingredients. 

[AFo 0]

So I have been using this for my salad dressing but I feel there is much mixed feedback on natural xanthan? 

[ShannonM816 5548]

4 hours ago, AFo said:

So I have been using this for my salad dressing but I feel there is much mixed feedback on natural xanthan?

There's really not mixed feedback as far as Whole30 is concerned. Xantham gum is fine -- it's even listed as fine on the Common Additives Cheat Sheet here:   https://whole30.com/downloads/additives.pdf   

There are sites all over the internet saying that various things are good or bad, and they may or may not agree with Whole30. If you find compelling evidence that causes you to want to avoid xanthan gum, that is fine, but for Whole30 purposes it's allowed.