Health Canada's Food Directorate completed a detailed safety assessment of a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of tara gum, a new emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing and thickening agent, in the manufacture of various standardized and unstandardized foods.
Health Canada published a Proposal to Enable the Use of Tara Gum as an Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agent in Unstandardized Foods and Certain Standardized Foods [NOP/ADP-0027] on August 23, 2017. The proposal was open to the public for comment for 102 days. A summary of the comments and responses provided during this period is available in the information document referenced below.
As no safety concerns were raised through Health Canada’s assessment, the Department has enabled the use of the food additive tara gum described in the information document below by updating the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents, effective May 14, 2018.
The purpose of this communication is to publically announce the Department's decision in this regard and to provide the appropriate contact information for any inquiries or for those wishing to submit any new scientific information relevant to the safety of this food additive.
To obtain an electronic copy of the Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents to Enable the Use of Tara Gum in Various Foods - Reference Number: NOM/ADM-0114, please contact our publications office or send an e-mail to publications@hc-sc.gc.ca with the subject heading "hpfb BCS nom-adm-0114-eng".
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on the safety in use of any food additive, including tara gum. Anyone wishing to submit new scientific information on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate electronically, please use the words "tara gum (NOM-0114)" in the subject line of your e-mail.
Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate
Food Additives
