Hien Thanh Dom - Comment

While recognized by both nutritionist and other scientists as safe for human consumption and useful in many other areas, regulatory agencies and the general public should not overlook the potential hazards brought about by overusing gum acacia in the form of a food additive. Gum acacia is known as a natural food additive that can be found in foods such as carbohydrates and sweetmeats. In beverages it is the main emulsifier for sodas and soft drinks. It is also useful in cosmetics and certain pharmaceutical products. Hence, the commercial value of gum acacia is no doubt valuable. In the United States, although gum acacia is listed under Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), it is not always guaranteed that the food additive will not cause harm to humans. According to recent scientific studies (American College of Toxicology, 2005, 76-86), gum acacia causes rashes, mild to severe asthma in animals, especially for pregnant animals, and fatalities may occur. Also, noted by scientist while testing gum acacia on rats, calorie value is low and gum acacia is not digestible in rats (American College of Toxicology, 2005, p. 86). Result of testing gum acacia in other animals such as dogs and rabbits indicate that gum acacia and associated elements accumulated in the liver and tissues for several months after injection. Even the GRAS substance committee in 1973 could not determine conclusively on evidence of intact gum acacia molecule absorbed under normal conditions (American College of Toxicology, 2005, p. 76). All those results point to a conclusion that overuse of gum acacia may have a negative impact on health. If the food additive negatively impacts tested animal in some ways, the same may impact humans more or less in some other ways. Thus, having gum acacia food additive listed under GRAS does not guarantee perfect suitability for human.