Chlorate levels in xanthan gum – our commitment to quality, compliance and food safety
One year into first finding significant chlorate levels in xanthan gum of non-EU origin resulting in a RASFF notification, and following repeated findings and regulatory uncertainties, the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) has published an opinion1 on this matter to assist authorities in the application of food additives regulation.
The European PAFF committee states that a residual limit of chlorates in xanthan gum used as a food additive should not exceed 0.1 mg/kg. Whilst the limit is not a regulation, it should be considered a compliance condition and be met by the xanthan gum raw material when used as a food additive.
At Jungbunzlauer, we apply rigorous standards across our ingredient portfolio, from production to delivery. Consequently, we have assessed the risk of chlorate contamination throughout our process and raw materials and found it negligible in the context of the opinion’s limit. Beyond the new compliance requirements, Jungbunzlauer’s xanthan gum has been tested by an external laboratory using a reporting limit of 0.01 mg/kg with an accredited method, and no chlorate was detected.
These results demonstrate Jungbunzlauer’s commitment to delivering xanthan gum that consistently meets stringent quality and compliance expectations.
1 Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF). A.06_Presence of chlorates in xanthan gum (E 415). Summary Report, Section Novel Food and Toxicological Safety of the Food Chain, 19 June 2026. Link: https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ee29b16d-67d0-4958-b58f-b3999773ff78_en?filename=reg-com_toxic_20260619_min.pdf