Gum Arabic

• Context (DTE): The Sudan conflict has brought focus to a lesser-known product, Gum Arabic.

About Gum Arabic

• It comes from specific acacia trees and is mainly used in soft drinks.
• Sudan sells about 70% of the world’s gum arabic.
• It mainly comes from the Sahel area in Africa, where the climate is ideal for acacia plants.
• It has unique properties, like water solubility.
• Threat: Political instability in Sudan, especially in regions like Darfur and Kordofan.

What are its uses?

• Its use dates back to ancient Egypt (2000 BC), where it was used in food, paints, and mummification.
• It is used as an emulsifier and stabiliser in the food and beverage industry. It is mostly used to enhance texture and prevent crystallisation in processed foods, soft drinks, and candies.
• It’s also used in textiles, personal care, photography and painting.

Emulsifier It is an additive that helps two liquids mix. For example, water and oil separate in a glass, but adding an emulsifier helps the liquids mix together. They are traditionally prepared from plant and animal sources, but synthetic emulsifiers exist. They are added to processed foods and baked goods to prevent the separation of oil and water. Sahel Region Credit: Wikimedia Commons