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.

A broader approach to mannan gum removal

As guar gum use continues to grow, so does the challenge of removing mannan-based residues. Discover how a broader-targeting solution helps tackle this emerging consumer pain point.

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, where they are added to leave a film on hair and skin for smoothness.

Gums - a growing challenge for detergents

In 2025, there were over 8 thousand launches containing guar gum globally in the personal care industry. With a growth of 17% per year since 2021, the importance of guar gum in the industry is becoming even more relevant. In the food industry, guar gum is also growing its presence. There were over 17 thousand launches in 2025 containing the ingredient and an annual growth of 7% since 2021. (Source: Innova) This plant-derived gum solves 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, causing fabrics to look dirty and dull over time.

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.