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Ingredient file // Fiber

Cassia Gum

A wet food binder with a purity limit

Cassia gum is made from the inner portion of cassia seeds. It thickens liquid and helps wet food hold its shape, but contributes little nutrition. Safety assessments distinguish purified gum from less refined material and set a limit for its use.

What it is
A purified powder from the inner portion of cassia seeds, used to thicken and gel wet food.
Made from
The inner portion of cassia seeds
Main job
Bind wet food
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Purity and amount matter for safety
Not the same as
Guar gum

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 39 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

3%

65 of the 2,533 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 12 brands. 58 wet dog food, 7 dog food topper.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 14. In the top five of 6 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

59%

Listed before the salt in 59% of foods. In the rest it is under about 1% of the recipe.

Price per lb

Foods with it $4.09
All foods $3.23

Median of the cheapest bag price across 4 priced foods, 27% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

37%

of the foods that list it are from Blue. 12 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Seed processors separate the gum-rich inner portion from the husk and germ. They grind it for use as a thickener, then purify it to reduce naturally occurring anthraquinones that raised a laboratory safety concern.3,4

  1. 01 // Source Cassia seeds Seeds from two closely related cassia plants supply the inner portion used for the gum.
  2. 02 // Process Clean and sort Machines remove debris, immature seeds and seeds from a different cassia species.
  3. 03 // Process Split and grind Heat and mechanical treatment separate the husk and germ; the inner portion is milled into powder.
  4. 04 // Process Purify and dry An isopropanol wash reduces anthraquinones before the powder is dried.
  5. 05 // Output Cassia gum powder The dry powder reaches food plants as a texture ingredient for moist recipes.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

6

% protein

About this much protein remained in tested purified lots after correcting for moisture. The gum is used for texture.

Crude protein 5.9-6.2%3
Crude fat 0.3-0.5%3
Ash 0.2-0.3%3

These ranges were calculated from purified lots tested at different moisture levels. They describe those lots, not every supplier's gum. The food additive specification requires at least 75% galactomannan in the powder as sold.3,4

Why it is in the bag

What the manufacturer gets

  1. 01

    Sets wet food

    Cassia gum thickens liquid. In a laboratory test, it formed a firm gel with xanthan gum, while either gum alone did not form that gel.4

  2. 02

    Holds moisture in place

    Its long carbohydrate chains thicken water, helping a moist recipe keep a consistent texture around its solid pieces.3,4

  3. 03

    Reduces binder costs

    A producer-submitted technical assessment says cassia gum blends need less total binder for a target gel. That is a manufacturing cost claim, not a benefit measured in dogs.3

How much A 90-day Beagle trial fed 0.75% and 2.5% in canned food; EFSA's 1.5% dry matter safety limit applies to purified gum.1,2

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Purified cassia gum is safe at permitted levels

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A 90-day Beagle study found no adverse effect at its tested amounts, though water intake rose. EFSA's safety conclusion covers purified gum at no more than 1.5% of feed dry matter, not every form or amount.1,2

  2. Brands say

    Cassia gum keeps wet food together

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A laboratory test formed a firm gel with cassia and xanthan gums, but not with either gum alone. European authorization also specifies use with carrageenan in moist feed. This is evidence for texture, not dog health.4,5

  3. Brands say

    Cassia gum improves a dog's gut bacteria

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A laboratory fermentation test used enzyme-cut pieces of cassia gum and selected bacterial strains. It did not feed whole gum to dogs or measure their gut health, so the claimed benefit in wet food is untested.7

  4. Owners say

    Cassia gum causes cancer in dogs

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Less refined gum produced a positive bacterial mutation result; purified gum did not. That result supports impurity limits, not a claim that dogs develop cancer from cassia gum. JECFA found no long-term cassia gum cancer study.1,2

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It has a specific job: thickening liquid and helping wet food hold its shape. It is not a meaningful protein or fat source. Judge the food's nutrition from the whole recipe.3,4

  2. Q02

    Is it the same as guar gum?

    No

    Both are seed gums, but their carbohydrate chains have different branching patterns. That changes how they behave in a recipe. Cassia gum on the label does not mean the food contains guar gum.3

  3. Q03

    Should I avoid food containing it?

    Not by default

    The dog feeding study found no adverse effect at its tested amounts. EFSA's favorable safety assessment applies to purified gum at no more than 1.5% of feed dry matter; it does not cover less refined gum.1,2

  4. Q04

    Does the label show its amount?

    No

    Ingredients appear in descending order by weight, but the list does not give each ingredient's amount. Cassia gum's position tells you its relative weight, not its concentration or purity.6

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Blue 24
  2. Wellness 13
  3. Earthborn Holistic 5
  4. Go! Solutions 5
  5. Pure Balance 4
  6. Instinct 3
  7. Authority 3
  8. Solid Gold 2
  9. Abound 2
  10. Health Extension 2

Plus 2 more brands.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken 60%
  2. Chicken Liver 48%
  3. Chicken Broth 46%
  4. Flaxseed 45%
  5. Carrots 45%
  6. Guar Gum 26%
  7. Peas 25%
  8. Brown Rice 25%
  9. Potatoes 25%
  10. Turkey 25%
  11. Carrageenan 23%
  12. Sweet Potatoes 23%

On the shelf

Foods that list it

65 foods in our reviews list it. Here are some of them.

Wellness Core 95% Turkey & Spinach Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinWellness Ninety-Five Percent Beef Dog Food Mixer or Topper45.5% proteinWellness Ninety-Five Percent Chicken Dog Food Mixer or Topper36.4% proteinWellness Ninety-Five Percent Lamb Dog Food Mixer or Topper36.4% proteinWellness Ninety-Five Percent Turkey Dog Food Mixer or Topper36.4% proteinWellness Ninety-Five Percent Whitefish Dog Food Mixer or Topper40.9% protein
Show 59 more Blue Wilderness Beef & Chicken with Grains Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue Life Protection Formula Homestyle Recipe Grain-Free Senior - Chicken & Garden Vegetables Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinBlue Natural Veterinary Diet WM Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinWellness Complete Health Pate Turkey Salmon Entrée Smooth Wet Dog Food47.7% proteinWellness Complete Health Pate Turkey Dinner Smooth Loaf Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinWellness Complete Health Pate Age Advantage Tuna & Salmon Wet Dog Food47.7% proteinCanidae All Life Stages , Chicken and Rice Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinPure Balance Pro+ Performance for Active Dogs, Beef & Chicken Recipe Can Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinPure Balance Pro+ Chicken Recipe for Healthy Weight Can Wet Dog Food34.1% proteinPure Balance Pro+ Performance Turkey & Chicken Recipe Cuts in Gravy Can Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinPure Balance Pro+ Turkey & Potato Recipe Can Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinBlue Wilderness Denali Dinner Wild Salmon Venison Halibut Dinner Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue Basics Grain Free Adult Duck Potato Recipe Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinBlue Life Protection Formula Homestyle Recipe Puppy Food - Chicken & Garden Vegetables Wet Dog Food34.6% proteinBlue Wilderness Trout Chicken Grill Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue True Solutions Skin & Coat Care Whitefish Recipe Dog Food Topper31.8% proteinBlue True Solutions Small Breed Wet Dog Food34.1% proteinSolid Gold Leaping Waters Grain Free Fish Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinVictor Classic Chicken and Rice Formula Pâté Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinEarthborn Holistic Grain Free Classics K95 Chicken Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinEarthborn Holistic Grain Free Classics K95 Duck Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinEarthborn Holistic Grain Free Classics K95 Lamb Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinEarthborn Holistic Grain Free Classics K95 Turkey Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinEarthborn Holistic Grain Free Classics K95 Beef Wet Dog Food43.2% proteinInstinct Original Food for Small Breed Dogs Real Chicken Recipe Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinAbound Wild Beginnings Lamb & Beef Dinner Pate Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinAbound Lamb & Beef Dinner Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinGo! Solutions Sensitivities Duck Pâté Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinGo! Solutions Sensitivities Shredded Turkey Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food47.2% proteinGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Pollock Pâté Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Shredded Chicken Wet Dog Food47.2% proteinGo! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Turkey + Salmon Pâté Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinWellness Core Paté Whitefish, Salmon & Herring Wet Dog Food50.0% proteinWellness Core Digestive Health Chicken - Dog Wet Dog Food54.5% proteinWellness Core Digestive Health Beef Wet Dog Food54.5% proteinWellness Core Digestive Health Lamb Wet Dog Food54.5% proteinSolid Gold Barking at the Moon Beef Wet Dog Food43.2% proteinAuthority Chicken & Carrot Entree Adult Dog Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinAuthority Chicken & Carrot Entree Puppy Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinAuthority Everyday Health Beef & Vegetable Entree Adult Dog Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinInstinct Original Flaked Tuna Entrée Dog Food Topper44.4% proteinHealth Extension food Grain Free Northern Catch Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinHealth Extension food Grain Free New York Style Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinInstinct Original Food for Small Breed Dogs Real Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinBlue Life Protection Formula Homestyle Recipe Senior Turkey Vegetable Dinner Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinBlue Natural Veterinary Diet GI Low Fat Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinBlue Wilderness Snake River Grill Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinBlue Delights - Top Sirloin Flavor Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinBlue Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight Chicken Pate Wet Dog Food29.5% proteinBlue Freedom Grain Free Chicken Recipe Wet Dog Food36.4% proteinBlue Freedom Puppy Grain Free Chicken Recipe Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinBlue Homestyle Recipe - Fish & Sweet Potato & Garden Vegetables Wet Dog Food38.6% proteinBlue Wilderness - Duck & Chicken Grill Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue Wilderness - Chicken & Salmon Grill Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue Wilderness Beef Chicken Grill Wet Dog Food40.9% proteinBlue Baby Blue Puppy Chicken Vegetable Wet Dog Food34.6% proteinBlue Wilderness Turkey & Chicken with Grains Wet Dog Food45.5% proteinBlue True Solutions Mobility Support Wet Dog Food31.8% proteinBlue Baby Blue Puppy Turkey Potato Wet Dog Food47.7% protein

Our read // On the bag

Read cassia gum as a texture ingredient

When cassia gum appears low on a wet food list, read it as a binder for the liquid. The list shows relative weight, not the gum's exact amount or purity. Check the main ingredients and the food's nutrition; cassia gum alone tells you little about either.

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Safety evaluation of certain food additives Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2010 // Book
  2. 2 Safety of cassia gum as a feed additive for cats and dogs based on a dossier submitted by Glycomer GmbH EFSA Journal, 2019 // Journal
  3. 3 Cassia gum: Chemical and Technical Assessment Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2009 // Industry
  4. 4 Cassia gum FAO JECFA Monographs, 2010 // Regulator
  5. 5 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1947 concerning the authorisation of cassia gum as a feed additive for cats and dogs Official Journal of the European Union, 2019 // Regulator
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  7. 7 Preparation, characterization, and prebiotic activity of manno-oligosaccharides produced from cassia gum by a glycoside hydrolase family 134 β-mannanase Food Chemistry, 2020 // Journal
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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