Comparing E445 - Glycerol esters of wood rosin vs E444 - Sucrose acetate isobutyrate

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Overview

E445 - Glycerol esters of wood rosin

Glycerol esters of wood rosin (E445) are food additives made by joining glycerol to the resin acids found in pine wood rosin. In drinks, they act as a “weighting agent” that helps flavor oils stay mixed so the beverage looks and tastes uniform from first sip to last. They are also called ester gum on labels.

E444 - Sucrose acetate isobutyrate

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (E444) is a dense, syrupy liquid made from sucrose and food-grade acids. In drinks, it helps keep citrus oils and flavor droplets evenly mixed so the beverage looks and tastes the same from first sip to last. It does not add sweetness or flavor on its own.

Synonyms

E445

Glycerol esters of wood rosin

Glycerol ester of wood rosin

glyceryl abietate

ester gum

E444

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate

Functions

stabilizer

Origins

Plant

Animal

Synthetic

Products

Found in 1,945 products

Found in 416 products

Search rank & volume

#2252.8K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#2721.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.21

under-aware

×0.47

under-aware

Search volume over time

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

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

Popular questions

Is ester gum bad for you?
No—at permitted food levels it’s considered safe; EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 25 mg/kg body weight, and typical exposures from beverages are well below this.
What is ester gum in drinks?
It’s a weighting agent/emulsifier that keeps citrus flavor oils evenly dispersed in soft drinks, preventing separation and “ringing” at the surface; it’s often used as an alternative to brominated vegetable oil.
Is ester gum vegan?
It’s derived from wood rosin (from pine trees) reacted with glycerol; while the rosin is plant-based, glycerol can be plant-, animal-, or synthetic-derived, so vegan status depends on the supplier—check manufacturer or certification.
What is ester gum made of?
Glycerol esters of wood rosin—produced by reacting refined wood rosin (rosin acids from pine) with glycerol and then purifying the product.
What is ester gum used for?
Mainly to emulsify and weight citrus oils in soft drinks so they stay uniformly mixed; it’s also used in chewing gum and some desserts as a stabilizer.