ABSTRACT
Gums exude from trees and shrubs in tear-like, striated nodules or amorphous lumps, and then dry in the sun to form hard, glassy, different-colored exudates. Exudate gums have been utilized in food applications for years, for emulsification, thickening, and stabilization. The oldest and best-known of all natural gums is gum arabic. This gum is safe for human consumption based on a long and harmless history of use, as well as recent toxicological studies.
