Comparing E401 - sodium alginate vs E413 - Tragacanth

Synonyms
E401
sodium alginate
E413
Tragacanth
Tragacanth gum
Origins
Products

Found in 3,526 products

Found in 551 products

Search rank & volume
#1607.5K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#2471.8K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.31
under-aware

×0.49
under-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. How to make popping boba without sodium alginate?

    True popping boba relies on sodium alginate/calcium spherification; without it, you can make similar beads using agar or gelatin (e.g., drip 0.8–1% agar-juice into very cold oil), but they won’t have a liquid center. Some use low‑methoxyl pectin with calcium to create thin skins, but results are less consistent than with alginate.

  2. Is sodium alginate bad for you?

    No—food‑grade sodium alginate is widely approved (e.g., FDA GRAS, EFSA) and is considered safe at typical food levels because it’s poorly absorbed. Large supplemental amounts may cause gas or affect mineral absorption in some people, and those on strict low‑sodium plans should check labels.

  3. What is sodium alginate used for?

    It’s a seaweed‑derived thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent that forms gels with calcium—used for spherification, suspending particles in beverages, and improving texture in sauces, dairy, and desserts. It’s also used in some reflux products to form a protective “raft.”

  4. How to use sodium alginate for reflux?

    Alginate reflux remedies combine alginate with antacids to form a foamy “raft” on stomach contents; use an approved OTC product and follow its label (typically after meals and at bedtime). DIY use of food‑grade sodium alginate for reflux isn’t recommended—ask a pharmacist or clinician for suitable products.

  5. How to make sodium alginate?

    Commercial sodium alginate is produced from brown seaweeds via alkaline extraction of alginic acid, filtration, precipitation, conversion to the sodium salt, then drying and milling. It isn’t practical to make food‑grade sodium alginate at home; purchase certified food‑grade material instead.

  1. What is gum tragacanth?

    A natural plant gum (E413) from Astragalus shrubs that forms a viscous, odorless gel in water and is used in foods as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier.

  2. How to use gum tragacanth?

    Disperse the powder into cold water with good mixing (or preblend with sugar) and allow several hours to fully hydrate; typical food-use levels are about 0.1–0.5% to thicken and stabilize sauces, dressings, confectionery, and beverages, with good acid and heat tolerance.

  3. How to use gum tragacanth on leather?

    Make a 1–3% solution in water, brush it onto cut edges, let it get tacky, then burnish; it binds and smooths the edge for a polished finish.

  4. How to use tragacanth gum?

    For food use, hydrate in cold water as a slow-swelling gel and use around 0.1–0.5% for thickening and stabilizing; in sugarcraft, knead a small amount into fondant (about 1–2 tsp per 500 g) and rest it to firm into gumpaste.

  5. Gond katira what is it edible gum tragacanth?

    Gond katira is edible gum tragacanth (E413) from Astragalus, often soaked to swell and used to thicken drinks and desserts. It is generally recognized as safe at normal food-use levels.