Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal): Unambiguous identification by ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy as an adjunct to the revised jecfa specification, and the application of ¹³C‐NMR spectra for regulatory/legislative purposes

Abstract

The JECFA Specification for gum arabic was revised in 1990 to reflect more closely the specification of the Test Article used in evaluations that led to its classification ‘ADI not specified’ in 1982/83. Some producers and traders have objected to the Revised Specification; in contrast, consumer‐protection groups consider that it remains too lax to provide the degree of safety assurance expected. This paper presents analytical data that confirm the mean values previously established for nitrogen and the specific rotation of bulk commercial gum arabic from Acacia Senegal The data also establish that natural gum arabic imported into the USA and Europe in 1989/91 met the Revised Specification, but that a disturbingly high proportion of spray‐dried, processed gums sold as ‘gum arabic’ did not. NMR spectroscopy has (a) indicated that some such samples are based on non‐permitted gums and (b) confirmed that the 1983 Test Article represents not only typical 1990/91 shipments but also a wide range of reference gum arabic samples from other reputable sources. Details of a representative ¹³C‐NMR spectrum, derived by averaging the relative intensities for the characteristic resonances of 35 gum arabic samples, are given for future regulatory/legislative purposes. Some limitations of the Revised Specification and its susceptibility to commercial exploitation are discussed.

Keywords:

• Gum arabic
• revised specification
• Acacia Senegal
• NMR spectra
• gum talha
• gum combretum