What Is Xanthan Gum And Why Is It In Everything

If you've looked at a lot of ingredient labels on food, you've probably noticed that xanthan gum pops up a lot. In fact, it pops up in a lot of non-food products as well, like shampoo, but what exactly is xanthan, besides a great Scrabble word? While it is a food additive, you don't have to worry too much about xanthan gum, because it is nothing more than a thickening agent. It doesn't really have a taste on its own, but it simply holds things together. Let's take a look at what xanthan gum is and why it's in everything.