Glyn O. Phillips Hydrocolloids Research Centre

International Standards Centre

A natural product such as gum arabic coming from a variety of African countries is highly variable and companies find this a major problem in commercial applications such as beverages and encapsulated products.

An International Project involving 15 multi-national companies has set out a league Table where any company can in confidence find where its own gum arabic product fits in with regard to quality within the global commercial markets.

Pectins, Carrageenans, Carboxymethyl Cellulose, specialised Starches and Xanthan are other food hydrocolloids are being subjected to the same quality evaluation and natural modification.