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CarCareTruth

Xanthan Gum

  • Thickeners
  • CAS 11138-66-2

Xanthan Gum (CAS 11138-66-2) appears in 2 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

Non-hazardous polysaccharide. No GHS classifications. No skin, eye, or respiratory hazards at any relevant concentration. Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for food use by FDA.

Xanthan gum is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide produced by fermentation of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. In car care products it serves as a thickener and rheology modifier, giving water-based formulas a controlled viscosity that helps them cling to surfaces during application. It is non-toxic, readily biodegradable, and carries no GHS hazard classifications. EPA Safer Choice listed.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
yes
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Rheology modifier and viscosity builder in water-based formulations

Common questions about Xanthan Gum

What is Xanthan Gum used for in car care?
Rheology modifier and viscosity builder in water-based formulations
Is Xanthan Gum a VOC?
No. Xanthan Gum is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Xanthan Gum on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Xanthan Gum is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Xanthan Gum EPA Safer Choice certified?
Yes. Xanthan Gum is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

2 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.