When it comes to food allergies, most people are familiar with common allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, or eggs. But sometimes people are allergic to food products they've never even heard of, like food additives. Guar gum is one of the most common food additives and is generally harmless in small amounts. But in some people, it can trigger an allergic reaction, which in rare cases may cause anaphylaxis.

Some MyFoodAllergyTeam members have wondered about guar gum. One member wrote, “Has anyone had a reaction to curry before? I tried making a red curry chicken with coconut sauce and it REALLY affected me. I’m also wondering if it wasn’t the curry but perhaps the guar gum in the coconut milk? I am guessing guar gum is just an additive/preservative? My stomach is killing me and my throat is swollen. Any similar situations?”

You can talk to your doctor or allergist about food additives and whether guar gum is an allergen you should be tested for. Here’s more information about guar gum that you can discuss in more detail with your allergy health care team.

What Is Guar Gum?

Many packaged food products have additives that are used for numerous purposes, including flavoring, preserving, coloring, sweetening, and thickening. A variety of gums are used to thicken or stabilize foods because they have a gel-like texture that helps different ingredients, such as oil and water, combine into a thick or creamy form.

Food gums have been used in food for centuries, and many commonly used gums come from plants. Guar gum is produced from the seed of the guar plant, which is related to the pea. Guar seeds are stripped of their outer shell and then ground into a fine powder. Guar gum helps bind ingredients together and is found in many foods, including ice cream, yogurt, soups, stews, and sauces. It is also used in plant-based milks such as soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, hemp milk, and flax milk.

Guar gum is believed to have originated in Africa and was then widely grown in Southeast Asia. The plant is largely associated with India and Pakistan, although it is now grown in many other places, including the United States. Guar gum is known by other names, such as guar gum flour, Indian cluster bean, guaran, and guar.

Other Food Gums

Many other gums are also used as food additives, including gums derived from plant seeds, such as tara gum, flaxseed gum, and locust bean gum. Carrageenan and agar are common food gums made from seaweed.

Xanthan gum is a common food additive that is produced by fermenting bacteria found on green vegetable leaves. Xanthan gum and several other gums are known as microbial gums because they are made from microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and mold.

Guar Gum Food Allergy

Research on guar gum allergy is somewhat limited. Guar seeds, also known as guar beans, are a type of legume, which is a family of foods that includes peanuts, soybeans, lupin, and peas. Legumes are linked to food allergies that can cause severe responses in some people, including anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis from guar gum appears to be very rare. However, one study found cases where people who consumed guar gum experienced anaphylaxis and tested positive for immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody in the immune system that is produced during some allergic reactions. Another study reported a patient with anaphylaxis who was diagnosed with a guar gum allergy through a basophil activation test, confirming that it was an IgE-mediated allergy. People with allergies to foods such as milk, eggs, tree nuts, seafood, and legumes tend to have higher levels of IgE antibodies in their blood, which react when exposed to these allergens.

Other research has shown that blood samples of individuals representing the general population had elevated levels of IgE antibodies against various good gums — including locust bean gum, xanthan gum, and guar gum — in up to approximately 29 percent of the samples. The study suggested that gum food additives need to be investigated further to understand their significance as a food allergen.

It’s important to recognize symptoms of a food allergy and have a plan for quick treatment. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about anaphylaxis and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector in case of a severe allergic reaction.

Guar Gum Allergy From Inhalation

Guar gum is also used in pharmaceuticals, mining, cosmetics, fire retardants, textiles, paper, and printing. In rare cases, people who work with guar gum have experienced allergic reactions from breathing it in. This type of exposure caused symptoms of rhinitis — such as nasal congestion, itching eyes, and sneezing — and occupational asthma, a type of asthma in which substances in the workplace cause airways to swell and become narrow.

People who experienced allergic reactions to workplace guar gum were found to be atopic, which is a condition that makes some people more likely to develop asthma, allergic rhinitis (commonly known as hay fever), and atopic dermatitis (the most common form of eczema). People who are atopic tend to have a higher sensitivity to common allergens, including food allergens.

Guar Gum and the Gut

Guar gum is high in fiber, and some research suggests it may be good for digestive health. It is also used as a gluten-free food additive instead of wheat gluten. However, guar gum has also been linked to digestive problems like bloating and gas. Studies show that guar gum affects the gut microbiota — the naturally occuring bacteria in the digestive system — and may increase the risk of inflammation in the colon.

One MyFoodAllergyTeam member said, “I just confirmed my gut cannot tolerate any gums — carrageenan, guar, gellan, xanthan gum — which are in a lot of things like nondairy milks and yogurts.”

Another member wrote, “I figured out that rice and coconut milk were causing my stomach upset. After researching, I found that some ingredients in these milks — mainly guar gum, different gums, and carrageenan — can cause stomach upset in some people and can upset gut bacteria.”

It’s important to note that a digestive issue may not be an allergic reaction. Instead, it might be caused by a food intolerance, which can occur when the body lacks the enzymes needed to properly digest a food. An allergic reaction, however, is caused by the immune system overreacting to a particular substance.

Guar Gum and Food Packaging Labels

Guar gum is an ingredient that is listed on food labels. In general, under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food companies to clearly label major food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, crustacean shellfish, soybeans, and sesame) on food packaging.

FALCPA also advises food manufacturers on manufacturing practices to prevent cross-contact of food allergens. Cross-contact occurs when food allergens accidentally get into a food product during manufacturing. Some food companies may provide a warning on their packaging labels about the risk of cross-contact, although this is not a labeling requirement.

Because of the different names used for guar gum, it may not be obvious right away that a food item contains guar gum. If you or your child has food allergies, it’s important to always read the ingredient list on food labels carefully to look for potential allergens. Talk to your health care team if you have questions about any unfamiliar ingredient.

You Can Be Tested for Guar Gum Allergy

It can be hard to know if you have an allergy to a food additive such as guar gum. But if you have allergic reactions to a variety of unrelated foods that usually don’t bother you, it may be because of an additive.

If you think you might have a guar gum allergy, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor may want to test you for a guar gum allergy.

The best way to manage a guar gum allergy — or any food allergy — is to carefully read food labels to know if you may be at risk of exposure. Avoiding food allergens is the best way to protect you or your child from an allergic reaction. Let others know if you or your child has a food allergy, and make a plan in case you accidentally come into contact with the allergen.

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Have you had a reaction to guar gum? Have any other food additives affected you? Share your experience with others in the comments below or by posting on your Activities page.