Gellan gum, also known as low acyl gellan gum, is a versatile polysaccharide that is widely used as a thickening, gelling, and stabilizing agent in a variety of industries.
This biodegradable and non-toxic gum is derived from a bacterium known as Sphingomonas elodea and is produced through fermentation.
Gellan gum has a unique combination of properties that make it an ideal ingredient for many applications.
In this article, we will explore the main uses of gellan gum in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using this polysaccharide.
Uses of Gellan Gum in the Food Industry
Thickening and Stabilizing Agent:
Gellan gum is widely used in the food industry as a thickening and stabilizing agent.
It is highly effective in increasing the viscosity of liquids, making it an ideal ingredient for creating sauces, dressings, and soups.
It also helps to prevent separation, ensuring that the consistency of these products remains uniform.
Gel Formation:
One of the most distinctive properties of gellan gum is its ability to form a clear, firm gel.
This property makes it a popular ingredient in the manufacture of jelly candies, fruit gummies, and other gel-based confectioneries.
Gellan gum gels are also used as a base for fruit purees and other culinary applications.
Emulsification:
Gellan gum is also used as an emulsifying agent in the food industry. The emulsification property is used to create a stable emulsions, such as mayonnaise, salad dressings, and other condiments.
It helps to prevent separation and ensures that the emulsion remains uniform, even when subjected to changes in temperature and other environmental conditions.
Uses of Gellan Gum in the Beverage Industry
Stabilization:
Gellan gum is used as a stabilizing agent in the beverage industry, helping to prevent separation and maintain the uniform consistency of liquids.
This property makes it an ideal ingredient for creating fruit juices, smoothies, and other similar beverages.
Suspension:
Gellan gum is also used in the beverage industry to suspend particles in liquid.
This property is used for creating cloudy fruit juices, as well as other beverages that contain suspended solids.
Gel Formation:
Gellan gum is also used in the beverage industry to create gel-based beverages, to make gel shots, energy gels, and other similar products.
Uses of Gellan Gum in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Encapsulation:
Gellan gum is used in the pharmaceutical industry as an encapsulating agent. It is an ideal ingredient for creating microcapsules, which are used to protect sensitive ingredients and improve their stability.
Controlled Release:
Gellan gum is also used in the pharmaceutical industry for controlled release applications.
Which makes it an ideal ingredient to create sustained-release formulations, such as drugs that are designed to be released over an extended period of time.
Gel Formation:
The gum is also used in the pharmaceutical industry to create gel-based products, such as topical gels, vaginal gels, and other similar products.
Conclusion
Gellan gum is a versatile polysaccharide that has a wide range of uses in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
Its unique combination of properties, such as its ability to form clear gels, stabilize liquids, and provide controlled release, make it an ideal ingredient for many applications.
However, like any other ingredient, gellan gum also has some drawbacks.
It is often more expensive than other gelling agents, such as agar and gelatin, and can have a slight impact on the flavor of the final product.
But it is suitable for use in some applications, because it is a gluten-free and vegan friendly gelling agent.
