Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin for Sports, Citrus Beverages

WHITE MARSH, Md.TIC Gums announced that the glycerol ester of wood rosin (GEWR) is the best choice for a weight agent to stabilize sports drinks and other citrus-flavored beverages.

This announcement follows a recent decision released by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee of Food Additives (JECFA), in which the committee reaffirmed the safety of GEWR and removed the temporary Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) for the glycerol ester of gum rosin (GEGR).

The JECFA reviewed numerous food additives, including GEWR and GEGR, at its 77th meeting in June. The Summary and Conclusions document from the meeting was released on June 19, 2013. JECFA withdrew the temporary ADI for the GEGR after requests for feeding studies and comprised data were not fulfilled by its petitioners. Its decision followed a similar one by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2010, in which the EFSA denied regulatory approval to GEGR. The EFSA cautioned that there were not sufficient toxicological studies and other data to allow the use of GEGR as a food additive.

At the meeting, JECFA also reaffirmed the ADI of GEWR at 0-25 mg/kg bw. Additionally, GEWR is also approved for use as a food additive by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), EFSA and other regulatory agencies around the world.

TIC Gums' product line includes Pinova Ester Gum 8BG and Pinova Gum 8BG-HS, food-grade glycerol esters of wood rosin (GEWR) that are effective weighting agents for adjusting the density of citrus oils and improving stability in beverages. The company also recently offered a cost-saving, gum arabic alternative.