Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried exudate gum (tears/lumps) and milled powder
Industry PositionFood additive hydrocolloid (stabilizer/emulsifier/thickener)
Market
Gum ghatti (INS 419) is a plant exudate gum obtained from Anogeissus latifolia and is associated with India’s dry deciduous forest belt as a nontimber forest produce (NTFP). India is a major producing origin, with harvesting reported across multiple states and a notable concentration in Maharashtra. Collection is typically seasonal with a reported peak harvest in April, and supply quality is strongly influenced by tapping/collection practices and post-collection drying, cleaning, and grading. For food use, buyers commonly benchmark compliance to Codex/JECFA specifications and India’s BIS food-grade standard for gum ghatti.
Market RoleMajor producer and exporter
Domestic RoleNTFP-derived industrial ingredient used as a food additive hydrocolloid and also used in pharmaceutical/nonfood applications
SeasonalitySeasonal collection with a reported major harvest in April and higher-quality crops associated with the dry season (absence of monsoon rains).
Specification
Physical Attributes- Food-grade gum ghatti described in BIS standard as amorphous, translucent rounded tears with a glassy texture
- Color range described as light brown to dark brown; lighter color associated with better grade
- Powdered material described as grey to reddish-grey in the BIS standard
Compositional Metrics- BIS solubility test: when 1 g is dispersed in 5 ml water it forms a viscous, adhesive mucilage
Grades- Commercial grading commonly described by color/impurities (e.g., lighter Grade 1 to darker Grade 3), with food-grade requirements referenced to BIS IS 7239
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Forest tapping/exudation and collection (often by local/tribal collectors) -> sun-drying to reduce moisture for safe storage -> cleaning/sorting/grading to remove bark/sand/dust -> milling and/or spray-drying into powder -> lot-based packing for domestic industrial supply or export
Temperature- Warehousing emphasis is on cool, dry storage conditions to control moisture and reduce spoilage risk in high-moisture freshly collected exudate.
Shelf Life- Freshly exuded gum has high moisture and higher spoilage/contamination risk; drying to lower moisture is highlighted in processing literature as essential for safe storage and subsequent processing.
Freight IntensityLow
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighTrade can be blocked or severely disrupted if gum ghatti shipments fail identity/purity requirements or exceed contaminant limits (e.g., heavy metals) under recognized specifications (JECFA/BIS) or if adulteration/mislabeling occurs due to mixed-gum substitution risks described in the literature.Contractually specify compliance to the latest JECFA monograph/specifications for INS 419 and BIS IS 7239 (food grade); require batch COA plus third-party testing for identity, ash/acid-insoluble ash, moisture, and heavy metals; implement supplier qualification and lot-level traceability audits.
Sustainability MediumSupply continuity risk from destructive tapping practices and forest-resource constraints; open literature notes that crude/heavy incisions can permanently damage trees and reduce long-term availability.Source from suppliers demonstrating responsible tapping protocols, collector training, and forest-management permissions; prefer documented procurement via recognized federations/authorized channels where applicable.
Climate MediumSeasonality and monsoon-linked moisture conditions can affect harvest timing and post-collection spoilage/contamination risk; major harvest is reported in April and quality is linked to dry-season conditions.Plan procurement around the reported pre-monsoon peak; specify moisture targets and drying controls; use moisture-barrier packaging and dry warehousing.
Traceability MediumForest-collection supply chains can involve multiple aggregators and grade-based sorting, increasing the risk of mixed lots, variable ash/impurity profiles, and weak provenance documentation.Implement chain-of-custody documentation from collection/aggregation through processing; maintain grade segregation and perform incoming QC against BIS/JECFA parameters.
Sustainability- Forest-resource sustainability: wild-harvest NTFP with long-term supply dependent on responsible tapping practices and forest governance
- Tree health impacts: crude/heavy incisions for tapping are described in open literature as potentially damaging and may shorten tree lifespan
Labor & Social- NTFP collection by tribal/local forest communities: elevated risk of informal procurement, occupational safety gaps, and weak grievance mechanisms unless structured through audited, fair-trade-aligned procurement channels
FAQ
When is gum ghatti typically harvested in India?Open-access production literature reports that the major gum harvest is in April and that better crops are associated with the dry season before monsoon rains, so availability and quality can be seasonal rather than uniform year-round.
Which Indian regions are commonly associated with gum ghatti harvesting?An open-access review describes harvesting in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and also across dry plateau and forest regions including Madhya Pradesh (Vindhyachal/Satpura), Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
What standard can be used as a reference for Indian food-grade gum ghatti quality requirements?India has a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) food-grade specification for gum ghatti (IS 7239; first revision available as IS 7239:2007) that describes requirements and test methods for food-grade material.
Is gum ghatti recognized for food additive use internationally under Codex/JECFA?Yes. Codex GSFA lists gum ghatti as INS 419 and WHO’s JECFA database shows an ADI of “not specified” for gum ghatti that complies with the specifications, reflecting low health concern when specification compliance is met.