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[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR172.665]

[Page 70]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 172 FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED FOR DIRECT ADDITION TO FOOD FOR HUMAN
 
        Subpart G Gums, Chewing Gum Bases and Related Substances
 
Sec.  172.665  Gellan gum.

    The food additive gellan gum may be safely used in food in 
accordance with the following prescribed conditions:
    (a) The additive is a high molecular weight polysaccharide gum 
produced from Pseudomonas elodea by a pure culture fermentation process 
and purified by recovery with isopropyl alcohol. It is composed of 
tetrasaccharide repeat units, each containing one molecule of rhamnose 
and glucuronic acid, and two molecules of glucose. The glucuronic acid 
is neutralized to a mixed potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium 
salt. The polysaccharide may contain acyl (glyceryl and acetyl) groups 
as the O-glycosidically linked esters.
    (b) The strain of P. elodea is nonpathogenic and nontoxic in man and 
animals.
    (c) The additive is produced by a process that renders it free of 
viable cells of P. elodea.
    (d) The additive meets the following specifications:
    (1) Positive for gellan gum when subjected to the following 
identification tests:
    (i) A 1-percent solution is made by hydrating 1 gram of gellan gum 
in 99 milliliters of distilled water. The mixture is stirred for about 2 
hours, using a motorized stirrer and a propeller-type stirring blade. A 
small amount of the above solution is drawn into a wide bore pipet and 
transferred into a solution of 10-percent calcium chloride. A tough 
worm-like gel will form instantly.
    (ii) To the 1-percent distilled water solution prepared for 
identification test (i), 0.50 gram of sodium chloride is added. The 
solution is heated to 80 [deg]C with stirring, held at 80 [deg]C for 1 
minute, and allowed to cool to room temperature without stirring. A firm 
gel will form.
    (2) Residual isopropyl alcohol (IPA) not to exceed 0.075 percent as 
determined by the procedure described in the Xanthan Gum monograph, the 
``Food Chemicals Codex,'' 4th ed. (1996), pp. 437-438, which is 
incorporated by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51. Copies are available from the National Academy Press, Box 285, 
2101 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20055 (Internet address 
http://www.nap.edu), or may be examined at the Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition's Library, Food and Drug Administration, 5100 
Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, or at the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://
www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--regulations/ibr--
locations.html.
    (e) The additive is used or intended for use in accordance with 
current good manufacturing practice as a stabilizer and thickener as 
defined in Sec.  170.3(o)(28) of this chapter. The additive may be used 
in foods where standards of identity established under section 401 of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act do not preclude such use.
    (f) To assure safe use of the additive:
    (1) The label of its container shall bear, in addition to other 
information required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the 
name of the additive and the designation ``food grade''.
    (2) The label or labeling of the food additive container shall bear 
adequate directions for use.

[55 FR 39614, Sept. 28, 1990, as amended at 57 FR 55445, Nov. 25, 1992; 
64 FR 1758, Jan. 12, 1999]

[[Page 71]]




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