Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our ingredients, certifications, sourcing, and how we work.
Common questions about our ingredients, certifications, sourcing, and how we work.
PAT Ingredients is the food and beverage division of P.A.T. Products, Inc., a specialty ingredient distributor based in New England with national warehouse locations. In business since 1974. We stock gum acacia, manufacture PureAcacia oil powders in the United States, and supply functional ingredients from qualified manufacturing partners.
If your question isn't answered here, reach out directly. We're a small team and we respond fast.
Gum acacia and gum arabic are the same ingredient. Gum acacia is the preferred regulatory name in the US (FDA 21 CFR 184.1330) and EU (E414). The name "gum arabic" has historical roots in the Arab trade routes that carried the ingredient to Europe for centuries. Both names appear on labels, but gum acacia is increasingly the standard in food manufacturing.
It is the dried exudate of acacia trees native to sub-Saharan Africa, harvested by tapping wild trees across the Sahel belt. See our full article on the naming history →
Acacia senegal is the premium species. Higher molecular weight, superior emulsification performance, and better film-forming properties. It is the preferred grade for beverage emulsions, citrus-flavored RTD applications, confectionery panning, and non-alcoholic and cannabis beverage formulations where oil-in-water stability matters.
Acacia seyal dissolves faster and is more cost-accessible. It is preferred for flavor encapsulation, fiber fortification, tableting, and supplement binding applications where rapid dissolution and cost efficiency are the priorities.
Both species are available conventional and certified organic. See the full grade guide →
We carry multiple grades from Willy Benecke GmbH. Most are stocked in US warehouses for prompt shipment.
Acacia senegal
Acacia seyal
Grade specifications are available through our Documentation Center.
Gum acacia is one of the most versatile functional ingredients in food manufacturing. Primary applications include beverage emulsification, spray-dried flavor encapsulation, prebiotic fiber enrichment, and confectionery coating and panning.
It also performs well as a tableting binder in dietary supplement manufacturing. See our technical articles for application-specific guidance →
Yes. Gum acacia (acacia fiber) is classified as a dietary fiber by the FDA under 21 CFR 101.9. It can be counted toward the fiber content on a Nutrition Facts label. It is approximately 90% soluble dietary fiber, prebiotic, low calorie, and neutral in taste with no viscosity impact at typical addition levels.
PureAcacia is PAT's own line of spray-dried oil powders, manufactured in the United States. We use gum acacia as the encapsulant, which is our primary area of expertise. Two base oils are available: MCT oil (coconut-derived and coconut allergen free) and high-oleic sunflower oil. Each is available in 50% and 70% oil load versions. The Organic MCT Oil Powder is Oregon Tilth certified.
The percentage refers to how much of the powder by weight is active oil. A 70% oil load delivers more oil per gram of powder, which is useful when maximizing oil content per serving is the priority. The 50% load has a broader range of dry-mix applications and handles well in many standard powder formats. Both versions use gum acacia as the carrier.
Gum acacia forms a tighter, more continuous film around oil droplets than maltodextrin, which provides better oxidative protection and longer shelf stability. It is also a clean-label carrier: natural, plant-derived, and a source of prebiotic fiber. The carrier system is two ingredients: oil and gum acacia. Nothing else to explain on the label.
We carry aminochelated minerals, natural fruit powders, and functional actives.
Minerals: magnesium glycinate, zinc bisglycinate, iron bisglycinate, selenium. Fruit powders: acai, camu camu, lime, lemon, orange, pineapple, blackberry, apple cider vinegar, and others. Functional actives: Ganogen® reishi (precision-fermented, 70% beta-glucans), lion's mane, AlluMonk (allulose and monk fruit blend).
Aminochelated means the magnesium is chemically bound to the amino acid glycine. This enables absorption via the dipeptide transporter pathway in addition to passive diffusion, a dual-pathway advantage over inorganic forms like magnesium oxide or carbonate. It is also GI-gentle: no laxative effect at therapeutic doses, which matters for sleep and relaxation products where GI discomfort would undermine the application.
Glycine is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter precursor with its own calming properties, which means a magnesium glycinate product carries two complementary mechanisms. Full magnesium glycinate product page →
Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) is an Amazonian fruit with one of the highest natural vitamin C concentrations of any known fruit. Supplement brands moving away from synthetic ascorbic acid toward whole-food vitamin C sources are driving demand. The powder we carry is 87% pulp concentration with a prebiotic fiber and acacia gum carrier, no maltodextrin.
Ganogen® is produced via precision fermentation rather than field harvest, which enables batch-to-batch consistency in beta-glucan concentration. The standardized level is 70% beta-glucans, well above the 10–30% typical of field-grown mushroom powders. It also carries a randomized clinical study (2014–2016) documenting immune cell activity, which is uncommon for a standardized mushroom ingredient. Reishi product page with clinical data →
Yes. Our organic gum acacia grades are certified by Oregon Tilth (OTCO) under the USDA National Organic Program. Oregon Tilth is one of the most respected organic certifiers in the US natural products industry. The underlying organic certification from our supplier, Willy Benecke GmbH, is issued by Ecocert in the EU. Both certificates are available in our Documentation Center.
Yes. Gum acacia is inherently plant-derived with no animal inputs. Kosher (OU) and Halal certificates from Willy Benecke are available in our Documentation Center. The Organic MCT Oil Powder also carries Kosher certification.
Gum acacia is 100% plant origin with no animal-derived inputs, inherently gluten-free, and non-GMO. Zero known allergens. Supporting statements are available for supplier qualification through the Documentation Center.
Willy Benecke's SprayCom facility carries FSSC 22000 food safety certification, one of the most rigorous food safety standards globally. PAT's US manufacturing facility for PureAcacia oil powders is SQF certified. Both certificates are available in the Documentation Center.
We source exclusively from Willy Benecke GmbH, a German company headquartered in Hamburg. They have direct sourcing relationships with acacia harvester cooperatives across sub-Saharan Africa and process at their SprayCom spray-drying facility with 4 million kg annual capacity. FSSC 22000 certified. Both Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, conventional and organic.
Our functional ingredient line is sourced from Nutreo, a Colombian manufacturer based in Cali. They specialize in functional ingredients from Amazonian and tropical biodiversity: aminochelated minerals, Amazonian and tropical fruit powders, and precision-fermented mushroom ingredients. PAT Ingredients is Nutreo's North American distribution partner for select product lines.
Sudan has historically been the largest single source of gum acacia, which makes political or climate instability there a real supply factor for the market. Willy Benecke has direct cooperative relationships across the broader Sahel region, which gives us early visibility into supply conditions. We maintain US warehouse stock across grades as a buffer. For buyers who need continuity assurance, reach out and we can discuss inventory positions and lead times. See our article on Sudan supply chain dynamics →
Click Request a Sample anywhere on the site. Tell us your application, target ingredient, and approximate volume. We'll include the appropriate grade with relevant technical documentation. Samples ship within one business day.
Sample quantities vary by ingredient. Commercial order minimums vary by product. We work with brands at a range of scales, from early-stage formulation runs to larger ongoing supply. Reach out and we'll discuss what makes sense for your volume and timeline.
Yes. Gum acacia grades ship from US warehouse stock. PureAcacia oil powders are manufactured domestically. Functional ingredient availability varies by product. Contact us for current stock positions on specific ingredients.
For PureAcacia oil powders, yes. We can work with specific oil inputs, oil load percentages, and carrier configurations. For gum acacia, we supply the grades as-produced from Willy Benecke. For functional ingredients, discuss your requirements with us and we'll advise on the best fit from what we carry. Contact us to start the conversation →
We have a full documentation library across all three product lines. Available documents include: COAs by lot, technical data sheets (TDS), safety data sheets (SDS), allergen statements, GMO-free statements, Prop 65 compliance, Kosher and Halal certificates, organic certificates (Oregon Tilth NOP), food safety certifications (FSSC 22000, SQF), nutritional data panels, and additional regulatory declarations (microplastics, PFAS, nitrosamines, ionising radiation, pesticides).
Through our Documentation Center. Register for access with your name, company, and email. We review requests and send login credentials within one business day. For urgent qualification needs, contact us directly and we'll send the documents right away.
PAT Ingredients is the food and beverage division of P.A.T. Products, Inc., a specialty ingredient distributor based in New England with national warehouse locations. In business since 1974. We focus on ingredients where sourcing relationships and technical knowledge matter: gum acacia, spray-dried oil powders, and functional ingredients from qualified manufacturing partners.
P.A.T. Products serves a wide range of industries including specialty chemicals, plastics, and industrial materials. Food ingredient buyers need a focused point of contact with the right documentation, technical familiarity, and a brand presence that fits the food industry context. PAT Ingredients is that. Same ownership, same sourcing relationships, same supplier partnerships. The focus is entirely on food, beverage, and dietary supplement customers.
New England, with warehouse stock distributed across the US. We serve customers throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. Contact us for logistics and lead time information specific to your location.