E416 Karaya gum — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

Karaya gum is the dried exudate of Sterculia (c1) or Cochlospermum (c2) trees: bark blazing, collection, drying, sorting, mechanical cleaning, grinding, sometimes heat treatment. Food production names no animal material or alcohols; the only reagent named is ethylene oxide for sterilisation (1940 patent, c27). Possible links occur only in patented gum forms: a soluble dry form (food and technical)

Basis of the ruling

Karaya gum is the dried exudate of Sterculia or Cochlospermum trees: the bark is cut, and the gum is collected, dried, cleaned and ground. A patent on a soluble dry form of the gum adds "milk substitutes" and flavourings whose composition is not disclosed; a technical form adds resin of unnamed kind.

Names: Камедь карайя · Karaya gum · صمغ الكارايا

Also known as: Sterculia gum, E 416, E-416, Е416, Е 416, INS 416, INS No. 416, gum karaya, karaya, karaya-gum, gum sterculia, sterculia, Sterculia urens gum, katilo, kadaya

Category: Thickeners

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

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