SOMERVILLE, N.J.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the expanded safe use of acacia gum in foods and beverages, in response to a petition filed by Nexira.

Written regulations now allow for higher maximum usage levels of acacia gum permitted in products, and they also include distinctions allowing for even greater use of acacia gum.

The new regulations will allow for greater usage of acacia gum in a range of applications, including beverages, some soups, breakfast cereals, baked goods, etc. For instance, the maximum level of acacia gum in grain-based bars, such as breakfast bars, granola bars and rice cereal bars is now 35%.

Nexira petitioned FDA in December 2011, recognizing the benefits the amended regulations could have to consumers as well as a number of food and beverage categories. The rule became effective Dec. 6.

Additionally, FDA confirms that acacia gum supplies dietary fiber, thus allowing for even higher fiber promotion on labels.

With no objections from FDA, acacia gum has always been recognized through traditional analysis as a fiber, but to avoid any source of confusion with the fact that it is also a texturizer, emulsifier, stabilizer and thickener, we requested to have the FDA specifically write it into record," said Mathieu Dondain, Nexira director of business development.