Comparing E415 - Xanthan gum vs E516 - Calcium sulphate

Synonyms
E415
Xanthan gum
xanthan
E-415
e 415
E516
Calcium sulphate
Gypsum
Selenite
Calcium sulfate
calcium sulfate added to prevent caking
Products

Found in 37,379 products

Found in 2,164 products

Search rank & volume
#2590K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#2293.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.35
under-aware

×6.31
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 5 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 6 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions
  1. Is xanthan gum bad for you?

    No—at typical food levels it isn’t considered harmful; it’s approved for use in the U.S. and EU. Very high intakes can cause gas or a laxative effect in some people.

  2. Is xanthan gum safe?

    Yes—xanthan gum (E415) is approved by regulators like the FDA and EFSA and is considered safe at normal food-use levels. Large supplemental amounts may cause digestive upset, and xanthan-gum–based thickeners are not recommended for premature infants.

  3. What is xanthan gum made from?

    It’s a polysaccharide made by fermenting simple sugars (often from corn, sugarcane, or wheat) with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, then precipitated, dried, and milled into a powder.

  4. Is xanthan gum bad for dogs?

    No—it's not considered toxic to dogs, and small amounts used in pet foods are generally safe. Large amounts may cause diarrhea or gas, so avoid overuse and consult a vet if your dog has GI sensitivities.

  5. What does xanthan gum do?

    It works as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier—adding viscosity, suspending particles, and preventing separation. In gluten-free baking it helps bind dough and improve texture, and it’s shear‑thinning so it pours easily but thickens at rest.

  1. What is gypsum used for?

    In foods (E516), gypsum (calcium sulfate) is used as a stabiliser/firming and anti‑caking agent, a tofu coagulant, and to adjust brewing water; outside food it’s used for plaster, drywall, and as a desiccant.

  2. What is gypsum board?

    Gypsum board (drywall) is a building panel with a calcium sulfate core faced with paper, used for interior walls and ceilings—it's a construction use of the same mineral, not a food application of E516.

  3. What does gypsum do for soil?

    It supplies calcium and sulfate without notably changing pH, and can improve structure and water infiltration in sodic (sodium-affected) soils by displacing sodium; it has little effect on non‑sodic clays.

  4. What is selenite good for?

    Selenite is the crystalline mineral form of gypsum (calcium sulfate); it’s used like gypsum in construction materials and as a source of calcium and sulfate, including limited food uses as additive E516.

  5. How much gypsum to add to soil?

    Apply based on a soil test: typical maintenance rates are about 10–40 lb per 1,000 sq ft (50–200 g/m²) for lawns/gardens, while reclaiming sodic soils can require much more (around 1–4 tons/acre, 2–9 t/ha). Over‑application won’t fix non‑sodic clays and can add unnecessary salts.