Mannanases for sticky gum stains

Guar and locust bean gums are used in a wide range of foods and personal care products. Mannanases in your laundry detergent help remove their sticky, hard-to-remove stains.

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The two major culprits behind sticky gum stains

From creamy mayonnaise to luxurious cosmetics, guar and locust bean gum—also labeled as E410 and E412—are the go-to ingredients for thickening and stabilizing. These versatile additives create the velvety texture in your ice cream, the smoothness in your lotion, and ensure your ketchup and salad dressing stay lump-free. But while they work wonders in products, they can leave behind sticky stains that are notoriously tough to remove.

Common mannan stains

Low-fat foods
Locust and guar bean gums are key components of many low-fat products including low-fat mayonnaise, salad dressings and puddings.
Budget dairy foods
Cheaper than cream, guar gum is often used as a thickener in low-cost dairy products.
Personal care
Guar gum can be found in cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners and skin care products.

Gums - a growing challenge for detergents

In 2017, 684 new diet foods with guar and locust bean gum launched in Europe (Mintel). These plant-derived gums solve key challenges for the personal care and food industries but create a new one for laundry detergents. The mannan-based stains they leave behind are tough to remove and hard to avoid, as guar and locust bean gums are used in many products. With the rise of healthier eating trends, their use in low-fat and low-sugar foods continues to grow.

Watch a mannan stain disappear

Because mannan molecules are formed of long chains of sugars, their stains are difficult for detergents to remove. Mannanase enzymes attack mannan stains by cutting mannan molecules into tiny sugars that dissolve in the wash water. Detergent can now lift the mannan stains away from the fabric.