Adding value through natural quality  

Our highly viscous, light and speck-free locust bean gum, selected from the highest quality natural raw materials, is something we’ve become internationally recognised for.

This higher than the standard norm is the result of more than 20 years of specialisation and constant commitment to evolving both technologies and accuracy.

Our factory is one of the most modern locust bean plants in the world, with over 7.000 tonne capacity. Because of this, a higher level of automation has been achieved, food safety has increased, traceability has almost reached perfection and is now guaranteed by using a larger number of individual silos. Our new warehouse fully meets both safety requirements and logistical needs.

SEEDGUM® Certified organic also available.

Applications

Our locust bean gum systems provide solutions which give desired meltdown sensations and rich creamy mouthfeel to ice cream products.

Functionalities within Frozen Desserts preparations include:

  • Add body to frozen beverages
  • Maintain smooth taste experience
  • Creaminess and richness
  • Heat/shock resistance to ice-cream

SEEDGUM® application areas within the frozen desserts segment include:

  • Ice cream
  • Milk ice
  • Milkshake
  • Soft ice
  • Sorbet/sherbet
  • Water ice
  • Yogurt ice cream
  • Other frozen dessert applications

From fresh dairy products, spreadable cheese, to fresh cream, milk drinks, puddings and desserts, SEEDGUM® is the main ingredient of many globally successful recipes.

Functionalities in dairy product stabilization:

  • Prevents way-off
  • Texture enhancement in yogurt and milk-based products
  • Provides characteristic texture to spreadable cheese
  • Healthy and nutritional benefits by permitting to reduce sugars and fatty ingredients
  • Provides creamy mouthfeel, good syneresys control

SEEDGUM® application areas in Dairy include: 

  • Butter & butter spreads
  • Cheese, blue veine
  • Cheese, Cheddar & American cheese.
  • Cheese, hard.
  • Cheese, semi-hard, continental/yellow cheese.
  • Cheese, soft ripened
  • Cheese, soft unripened
  • Cheese, processed
  • Cream products
  • Dairy drinks, low pH
  • Dairy drinks, neutral pH
  • Desserts, aerated
  • Desserts, non-aerated
  • Fermented, fresh dairy
  • Milkshake
  • Vegetable products

Combined with carrageenans or xanthan gum, Locust Bean Gum forms a gel and is used in a different range of food systems as a thickening agent and in certain gel systems as a texture modifier.

Within Jelly and Fruit preparations, carob bean gum re-balances the carbohydrates levels, without compromising texture whilst delivering baking stability and well-defined pumping properties.

SEEDGUM® application areas in the Fruit Preparation Segment include:

  • Fruit fillings for bakery
  • Fruit glazings for tarts & cakes
  • Fruit preparations for other dairy applications
  • Jams & jellies
  • Ripples, toppings & sauces
  • Yogurt fruit preparations

LBG’s solutions develop high quality soups, sauces and dressings with a fantastically creamy taste and texture.

Functionalities in soups, sauces and dressings stabilisation:

  • Emulsify, thicken, suspend
  • Provide nutritional balance reducing calories
  • Develop great texture and rich mouthfeel
  • Stabilize and emulsify
  • Modify viscosity

SEEDGUM® application areas within thethe Fruit Preparation Segment include:

  • Dressing’s products
  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • Mustard
  • Sauces & gravies
  • Soups & broths
  • Pasta & noodles
  • Potato flakes
  • Ready meals

Locust Bean Gum usage in bakery applications, allows moisture retention and improves shelf life.

SEEDGUM® application areas in Bakery include:

  • Cakes & Pastries
  • Cookies & Bisquits
  • Breakfast Products
  • Bread & Rolls
  • Meringues & Foams
  • Pasta
  • Water based fillings

The perfect ingredient for literally everything

Locust Bean Gum (or Carob Bean Gum) is a texturant ingredient derived from the seed of the leguminous carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua). SEEDGUM® is completely natural and is one of the most used thickeners in the food industry, thanks to its unique functional properties and manufacturing process. As the required inclusion level is very low, this makes our range of products suitable for a huge number of foods, creating smoother and creamier textures while increasing shelf life in a nutritious and healthy way.  

SEEDGUM® is only soluble after heating to 80-90 C°, depending on time and shear. Viscosity at 1% ranges from 2000 to 3500 cps. When used together with carrageenan or xanthan gum, SEEDGUM® generates a gel, suitable for a wide range of food systems as a thickening agent and in certain gel systems, as a texture modifier. The synergy with kappa carrageenan gives:  

Reinforcement and flexibility of the carrageenan gels • Elastic texture and rich creamy ‘mouth’ feeling • Prevention of syneresis 

An Italian taste masterclass

As one of the oldest hydrocolloids used in the food industry, Locust Bean Gum has unique properties in many applications – from ice cream, cream cheese and jelly products to sauces and dressings. Tastes, flavours and food that us Italians know more than a little bit about!

Together with our experience in carob seeds features, our special manufacturing process makes our SEEDGUM® range particularly efficient in improving both the yield and efficiency in the final applications. In short, making everything taste even more delicious.  

Our best policy

As part of its policy to provide uncompromisingly quality products and services, LBG Sicilia puts its emphasis on the high quality of the materials, stock, work and services it purchases for its activity.

The company considers the supplier to be committed to the promotion of its interests and success.

The selection of the supplier shall be conducted in a fair process while utilising the following factors:

  • The quality and reliability of the product.
  • The efforts LBG Sicilia would have to make in order to adapt the supplier to the expected standards.
  • The supplier’s business strength and its ability to fulfill obligations including, schedules and prices.
  • Licenses, approvals and authorizations in the relevant field.
  • Reputation, experience, recommendations and past connections.

No nasties, just nature   

One of our  differentiating points with the competition is that we don’t use any chemicals in LBG processing.

Our process is totally natural and avoids any  kind of pollution. LBG Sicilia plant has been designed to guarantee the maximum safety and traceability through  every single step of production.

Avoiding cross contamination and guaranteeing traceability are two of the must haves of the food industry of the future. In fact our ideal customer is the one who doesn’t simply compare the final product’s features but gives value to all the guarantees behind it.

We invite you to visit our plant, to see with your own eyes the innovations we have achieved in this field.

What great manufacturing looks like

Good manufacturing isn’t just about technology and machinery. It’s about passion and an ambition to create only the best. Our plant is probably the world’s most automated for locust bean gum, with an automatic packaging and palletising system that has the capacity of more than 4 tonnes per hour. We also expanded its production capacity up to 7.000 tonnes per year. As the grinding process of the endosperm may influence the product’s characteristics, we’ve refined the most advanced techniques to manufacture SEEDGUM®.

Our controlled production process makes sure that:

  • the grain is dehusked by subsequent multistage mechanical treatments, to avoid any exposure to chemicals;
  • the splits are carefully separated from the germ, after moderate crushing;
  • grinding of the splits to obtain the flour is accurate and uncontaminated;
  • quality/cost ratio is always monitored to achieve the best result;
  • any risk of contamination or human error is averted by means of the advanced automation system and Bar Code Management;
  • the product has no external contacts during the process.

Trust comes naturally

Because we manufacture SEEDGUM® in a modern plant utilising the latest technologies, our Technology Lab is a crucial step in the manufacturing process. Measurements and tests are performed through these carefully controlled steps: 

  • Analogic/Digital Viscometer for viscosity measurements 
  • Camera Microscope 
  • Rheometer for Rheology tests for the realisation of customised sensory requirements 
  • Optical Colorimeter to set Colour Standardisation on our locust bean gum grades 
  • Spectrophotometer for chemical analysis on our production 
  • Analytical measurement of black specks 

All products are also available in the organic version along with our BRC, ISO 22000 and Kosher Certifications. 

Extra quality grade 100% specks free

For high quality demanding applications where viscosity, purity and appearance are required at the top.

Packing:

25 kg. multi sheet (paper + HDPE) bags with thermoclosing valve.

Shelf life:

best before 18 months.

Viscosity1% solution at 25 C° with Brookfield RVF spindle n°3 20 rpm
3000 +/- 200 cps
Microbiological StandardsTotal Plate Count1000 max
Mould and Yeast300 max
E. coliNegative
SalmonellaNegative
Granulationon
60mesh
on
100mesh
on
140mesh
on
200mesh
on pan
//0-10%40-50%50-60%
ChemicalHumidity12% max
Ash1% max
Fats1% max
Proteins7% max
PH5.5-7
Insoluble acids2% max
Heavy metals20 ppm max
Galactomannan78% min
Cadmium1 ppm max
Arsenic3 ppm max
Lead2 ppm max
Mercury1 ppm max
Starchnegative
Ethanolnegative

Premium quality

For applications where high viscosity and superior appearance are required.

Packing:

25 kg. multi sheet (paper + HDPE) bags with thermoclosing valve.

Shelf life:

best before 18 months.

Viscosity1% solution at 25 C° with Brookfield RVF spindle n°3 20 rpm
3000 +/- 200 cps
Microbiological StandardsTotal Plate Count1000 max
Mould and Yeast300 max
E. coliNegative
SalmonellaNegative
Granulationon
60mesh
on
100mesh
on
140mesh
on
200mesh
on pan
/0-5%30-40%30-40%30-40%
ChemicalHumidity12% max
Ash1% max
Fats1% max
Proteins7% max
PH5.5-7
Insoluble acids2% max
Heavy metals20 ppm max
Galactomannan78% min
Cadmium1 ppm max
Arsenic3 ppm max
Lead2 ppm max
Mercury1 ppm max
Starchnegative
Ethanolnegative

Standard quality high viscosity

It is suited for applications where high viscosity is necessary

Packing:

25 kg. multi sheet (paper + HDPE) bags with thermoclosing valve.

Shelf life:

best before 18 months.

Viscosity1% solution at 25 C° with Brookfield RVF spindle n°3 20 rpm
2800 +/- 200 cps
Microbiological StandardsTotal Plate Count1000 max
Mould and Yeast300 max
E. coliNegative
SalmonellaNegative
Granulationon
60mesh
on
100mesh
on
140mesh
on
200mesh
on pan
/0-5%30-40%30-40%30-40%
ChemicalHumidity12% max
Ash1% max
Fats1% max
Proteins7% max
PH5.5-7
Insoluble acids3% max
Heavy metals20 ppm max
Galactomannan76% min
Cadmium1 ppm max
Arsenic3 ppm max
Lead2 ppm max
Mercury1 ppm max
Starchnegative
Ethanolnegative

Standard quality, medium viscosity

Recommended for its economy of use in applications where high viscosity and superior appearance are not critical.

Packing:

25 kg. multi sheet (paper + HDPE) bags with thermoclosing valve.

Shelf life:

best before 18 months.

Viscosity1% solution at 25 C° with Brookfield RVF spindle n°3 20 rpm
min. 2400 cps
Microbiological StandardsTotal Plate Count1000 max
Mould and Yeast300 max
E. coliNegative
SalmonellaNegative
Granulationon
60mesh
on
100mesh
on
140mesh
on
200mesh
on pan
/0-10%30-40%30-40%30-40%
ChemicalHumidity14% max
Ash1% max
Fats1% max
Proteins7% max
PH5.5-7
Insoluble acids3% max
Heavy metals20 ppm max
Galactomannan75% min
Cadmium1 ppm max
Arsenic3 ppm max
Lead2 ppm max
Mercury1 ppm max
Starchnegative
Ethanolnegative

Standard quality, low viscosity

Recommended for its economy of use in applications where high viscosity and superior appearance are not critical.

Packing:

25 kg. multi sheet (paper + HDPE) bags with thermoclosing valve.

Shelf life:

best before 18 months.

Viscosity1% solution at 25 C° with Brookfield RVF spindle n°3 20 rpm
2200 +/- 200 cps
Microbiological StandardsTotal Plate Count1000 max
Mould and Yeast300 max
E. coliNegative
SalmonellaNegative
Granulationon
60mesh
on
100mesh
on
140mesh
on
200mesh
on pan
/0-10%30-40%30-40%30-40%
ChemicalHumidity14% max
Ash1% max
Fats1% max
Proteins7% max
PH5.5-7
Insoluble acids3% max
Galactomannan75% min
Cadmium1 ppm max
Arsenic3 ppm max
Lead2 ppm max
Mercury1 ppm max
Starchnegative
Ethanolnegative

Get in touch

Our team of functional food specialists are ready to answer your questions and help you create a bespoke food solution for your business.