Biosafety and Toxicological Studies

Toxicological studies revealed that gellan is relatively nontoxic to animals when administered as a single large dose (LD = 5000 mg/kg) in the diet (Table 1.3), while an inhalation toxicity test formd it caused no deaths in a group of 10 animals [6]. An eye irritation test described in the above study confirmed the safety of gellan in the case of contact with eyes. Gellan formulations received their first approval for food applications in Japan in 1988. It is now acceptable for food, non-food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical use in the United States, Canada, Australia, Latin America, South America, Asia, and in the European Union [12]. 

Rat Male Female Male Female Oral Inhalation 5000mg/kg 5.09 mg/1 [26] [27] [28] 

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