Question re guar safety

[Guest guest]

There has been talk on the main list about pudding using guar. Looking at

the internet, I found the following, which raises a question about safety:

" In the late 1980s, guar gum was used and heavily promoted in several weight

loss products. FDA eventually recalled these due to reports of esophageal

blockage from insufficient fluid intake. For this reason, guar gum is no

longer approved for use in over-the-counter weight loss aids in the United

States. "

Does anyone have any insights about how to use this safely?

Guar Gum

Guar gum is an emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer approved for use in a

wide range of foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It is sold as a white

to yellowish odorless white powder, which is available in different

viscosities and different granulometries depending on the desired viscosity.

Its viscosity is a function of temperature, time, and concentration. One

advantageous property of guar gum is that it thickens without the

application of heat.

Production

Guar Gum is derived from the ground endosperm of the guar plant, Cyanmopsis

tetragonolobus belonging to the family Leguminosae. The guar plant is mainly

grown in India and Pakistan from the month of July to December. At harvest

time, the seeds are extracted from the pod of the plant and then ground into

guar gum.

Composition

Guar Gum is a natural high molecular weight polysaccharide composed of

galactan and mannan units. Polysaccharides are complex sugar molecules with

nine or more simple sugars (monosaccharides) linked together. Examples of

other types of polysaccharides include starch and cellulose.

Safety

Guar gum is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) with differing percentages

set for its allowable concentration in various food applications. Several

studies have found significant decreases in cholesterol levels after

administration of guar gum in humans. These decreases are thought to be a

function of the high soluble fiber content of guar.

In the late 1980s, guar gum was used and heavily promoted in several weight

loss products. FDA eventually recalled these due to reports of esophageal

blockage from insufficient fluid intake. For this reason, guar gum is no

longer approved for use in over-the-counter weight loss aids in the United

States. However, it remains approved for use as an emulsifier, thickener,

and stabilizer.