Where Can I Find Wood Rosin Ester?
Ester of wood rosin, or ester gum, is a food additive that is commonly used in fruit juices and sodas. Acidic in nature, the substance is used as a stabilizer or thickening agent in certain foods and drinks. Ester of wood rosin is derived from tree stumps and has shown no major health effects in small quantities.
Glycerol ester of wood rosin is sometimes added to sports drinks to keep their flavor consistent.
Creation
The wood rosin is a substance derived from the stump of the long-leaf pine tree. A long-leaf pine tree is commonly found in the southeastern United States. A dense substance containing a number of different harmless abietic acids, rosin is a dense substance. Wood rosin is combined with several other substances to form ester gum, also called wood rosin ester. The thickening agent ester gum is commonly found in ice cream and chewing gum.
Added to Drinks
Frequently, fruit drinks and fruit sodas are flavored with fruit oils to enhance their natural flavors. A fruit juice or carbonated soda with water-based carbonation cannot be mixed with fruit oil. Adding glycerol to the ester of wood rosin creates glycerol ester of wood rosin, which acts as an emulsifier. In a new substance, the beverage is slightly thickened so that the fruit oils are homogeneously suspended.
Study of Health
There have been several health studies exploring the effects of glycerol esters of wood rosin on health. Only a few fatalities were reported in rat trials at extremely high dosages. In long-term studies of beagles, low dosages of the drug did not result in weight gain until a concentration of 1 percent was used. Food and Drug Administration regulations require commercial products to contain no more than 100 parts per million of glycerol ester of wood rosin.
Studies in Humanities
Ester of wood rosin has been known to cause allergic reactions in humans in rare cases. Since ester gum is a major component of periodontal equipment, patients who repeatedly contacted the rosin developed a sensitivity to it. Women who used rosin-based cosmetics and toiletries tested almost entirely negative for rosin sensitivity.
