Gum additives in food: What you need to know and watch out for

If you’ve ever looked at food packaging, you may have seen “xanthan gum” or “guar gum” listed as an ingredient. The latter half of their names should clue you in on what these unusually-named ingredients are: they’re gum additives, or substances commonly used by food manufacturers to enhance their products. Gum additives are typically utilized to extend shelf life, add texture, increase viscosity, and stabilize the pH levels of foods. There are many varieties of gum additives out there, but all of them are known to influence our gut bacteria — sometimes in negative ways.