Glycerol ester of wood rosin

In continuation of my observations as to the contents of a can of Fresca, in addition to this brominated vegetable oil which is vegetable oil that has been treated with bromine which is a corrosive, toxic, volatile liquid that has the potential to cause some unpleasant side effects, the Fresca also contains something called Glycerol ester of wood rosin.

Looking up this Glycerol ester of wood rosin, it appears that it is used to keep oil suspended in water, so that would be what they use during the emulsification process I guess. Glycerol ester of wood rosin is more simply known as ester gum which is essentially rosin acid that has been converted from it’s harvested form using glycerol. Ester gum has many uses. As a food additive it is generally used in beverages and chewing gum. It is also used in paints, varnishes and lacquers. Rosin acid, the base of ester gum, can be used for such purposes as caulking ships.

One wonders what Glycerol ester of wood rosin used as a food additive in beverages and chewing gum might caulk up in the human body. Maybe that is why kids are always warned that it’s dangerous to swallow chewing gum. Speaking of the dangers of swallowing chewing gum, I stumbled across this funny picture. Dangers of swallowing chewing gum