Toxicological evaluation of some food
    additives including anticaking agents,
    antimicrobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers
    and thickening agents



    WHO FOOD ADDITIVES SERIES NO. 5







    The evaluations contained in this publication
    were prepared by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert
    Committee on Food Additives which met in Geneva,
    25 June - 4 July 19731

    World Health Organization
    Geneva
    1974

              

    1    Seventeenth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on
    Food Additives, Wld Hlth Org. techn. Rep. Ser., 1974, No. 539;
    FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series, 1974, No. 53.

    ARABIC GUM

    Explanation

         This substance has been evaluated for acceptable daily intake by
    the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (See Annex 1,
    Ref. No. 20) in 1969.

         Since the previous evaluation, additional data have become
    available and are summarized and discussed in the following monograph.
    The previously published monograph has been expanded and is reproduced
    in its entirety below.

    BIOLOGICAL DATA

    BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS

         Arabic gum is almost completely digested by guinea-pigs (O'Dell
    et al., 1957).

         At dietary levels of less than 10%, arabic gum is fully absorbed
    with a caloric equivalent of four calories per gram (Shue et al.,
    1962)

    TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES

    Acute toxicity

         No data available. Sensitivity reactions have been reported in
    man, e.g. asthma in printers (Brown & Crepea, 1947; Bohner et al.,
    1941; Sprague, 1942; Fowler, 1952).

         Gum sensitization is an occupational risk for predisposed
    persons. In the case of inhalation, respiratory symptoms predominate
    (Gelfand, 1943). Allergenic reaction can also occur following the
    ingestion of arabic gum (Gelfand. 1949).

    Short-term studies

    Rat

         Groups of rats were fed 0% or 154 arabic gum in their diet for 62
    days. A cathartic effect was observed but weight gain, food
    efficiency, haematological findings and organ weights were normal
    (Booth et al., 1963).

     
    Guinea-pig

         Groups of 10 and 20 guinea-pigs were fed 15% powdered arabic gum
    for six weeks. Controls received no bulk food in their diet. Weight
    gain was improved in the test groups (Booth et al., 1949).

    Rabbit

         A group of four rabbits was given 20% arabic gum in a casein diet
    for four weeks. Weight gain improved significantly in the test groups
    (Hove & Herndon, 1957).

    Dog

         Three dogs were given 32 to 35 intravenous injections of acacia
    over a period of 76 days at a total cumulative dosage ranging from
    15.7 to 47.7 g/kg. The dog on the largest dose died with an enlarged
    liver but unexplained cause of death four months after its last
    injection. The other two dogs remained in good condition; biopsy
    showed acacia present in their livers 26 months after their last
    injections (Smalley et al., 1945).

    Long-term studies

         None available.

    OBSERVATIONS IN MAN

         Nine patients with nephrotic oedema received one to six
    intravenous injections of acacia over periods up to eight weeks, with
    total doses ranging from 80-325 g. There were no signs or symptoms of
    liver enlargement, and no other complications. Five of these patients
    excreted in the urine 5.5% to 38% of a single dose during periods
    ranging from 10 to 30 days, respectively (Johnson & Newman, 1945).

    Comments:

         This gum has a traditional use in foods and pharmaceutical
    preparations. The biochemical information available is sparse but it
    has been demonstrated in the rat that this gum is completely
    metabolized when it comprises less than 10% of the diet. Allergenic
    reactions have been reported in man following ingestion of the
    substance. Studies of the metabolic fate in man and potential body
    storage are desirable.

    EVALUATION

    Estimate of acceptable daily intake for man

         Not limited.*

    FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION

    Desirable

         Studies of the metabolic fate in man as well as more adequate
    studies in animals. Studies on the allergenic reactions reported
    following ingestion in men.

    REFERENCES

    Bohner, C. B., Sheldon, J. M. & Trenis, J. W. (1941) J. Allergy, 12,
         290

    Booth, A. N., Hendrickson, A. P. & De Eds, F. (1963) Toxicol. appl.
         Pharmacol., 5, 478

    Booth, A. N., Elvehjem, C. A. & Hart, E. B. (1949) J. Nutr., 37, 263

    Brown, E. B. & Crepea, S. B. (1947) J. Allergy, 18, 214

    Fowler, P. B. S. (1952) Lancet, 2, 755

    Gelfand, H. H. (1943) J. Aller., 14, 203

    Gelfand, H. H. (1949) J. Aller., 20, 311

    Hove, E. L. & Herndon, F. J. (1957) J. Nutr., 63, 193

    Johnson, J. B. & Newman, L. H. (1945) Arch. intern. Med., 76, 167

    O'Dell, B. L. et al. (1957) J. Nutr., 63, 65

    Shue, G. M., Douglass, C. D. & Friedman, L. (1962) Fed. Proc., 21(2),
         91

    Smalley, R. E. et al. (1945) Arch. intern. Med., 76, 39

    Sprague, P. H. (1942) Canad. med. Ass. J., 47, 253

              

    *    See relevant paragraph in the seventeenth report, pages 10-11.

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Arabic gum  (FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series 46a)
       Arabic gum (WHO Food Additives Series 17)