Is Guar Gum (E412) Vegan?

Vegan status: Vegan

E-number: E412

Also known as: Guar flour, Guaran, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba gum

Source

Ground from the endosperm of guar beans (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), a drought-resistant legume grown primarily in India and Pakistan. Entirely plant-derived.

Commonly found in

Gluten-free baked goods, ice cream, plant-based dairy alternatives, sauces, soups, pet food. A key thickener in gluten-free cooking as a substitute for gluten's binding properties.

Vegan alternative: No substitute needed — E412 is vegan.

Notes

India produces approximately 80% of the world's guar supply (APEDA — Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority). Guar gum is approximately 5–8 times as effective as corn starch as a thickener. It saw a dramatic price spike in 2011–2012 due to hydraulic fracturing (fracking) demand — guar is used in fracking fluid — which significantly affected food industry supply costs. Vegan and generally considered safe.