Tragacanth

Tragacanth (CAS 9000-65-1), also identified as E413 in food-grade applications, is a natural exudate gum sourced from Astragalus shrubs.

Where is Tragacanth used?

• Food manufacturing: stabilizer in salad dressings, confectionery fillings and ice cream, preventing phase separation and controlling texture
• Pharmaceutical: binding and suspending agent in tablet coatings, lozenges and oral liquid preparations
• Personal care: viscosity builder in creams, gels and toothpaste, improving spreadability
• Textile and paper processing: sizing and printing paste thickener
• It provides controlled flow during fabric dyeing and surface coating operations.

Good to know: Standard grades include food-grade (FCC compliant), pharmaceutical-grade (BP/Ph. Eur.) and technical-grade. Mesh size and viscosity specifications vary by grade; buyers should confirm these parameters against their formulation or process requirements.

Commercial specifications

• Mesh size and viscosity specifications vary by grade