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Food legislation, whether we like it or not, is the framework that governs our activities.

Both European and American regulations stipulate that even the plant species from which additives and ingredients are extracted must be strictly identified at the level of genus and species.

In the case of food additives E425(i) (konjac gum) and E425(ii) (konjac glucomannan), legislation clearly establishes that they can only and exclusively be obtained from the plant Amorphophallus konjac (family Araceae).

Independent studies across Asia and Southeast Asia confirm the existence of multiple Amorphophallus species — such as A. muelleri, A. oncophyllus, A. bulbifer, and others — all of which contain glucomannan in varying proportions. 

While these species are used locally as glucomannan sources, only Amorphophallus konjac is officially recognized under EU and US legislation for the production of E425(i) and E425(ii). 

The use of other species would require prior authorization under novel food regulations.

At a time when the food industry places increasing value on traceability, origin certification, and regulatory compliance, the need for botanical authenticity has never been more relevant.

To address this, Java Biocolloid has undertaken a rigorous evaluation process:

• Initial morphological and taxonomical comparisons supported by renowned scientists, botanists, and biologists.
• Systematic and phylogenetic verification to ensure accuracy.
• DNA extraction and sequencing using state-of-the-art methodologies, carried out by leading experts in genomics and bioinformatics. This process involved the analysis of nearly one terabyte of data against reference databases at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information.

The complete DNA sequence is securely archived at JBE’s offices and is available upon justified request.

As a result, Java Biocolloid is able to provide customers with products of certified plant origin, fully aligned with the specifications of konjac gum E425(i) and konjac glucomannan E425(ii).

Our certification is based not only on purity criteria but also on phylogenetic evidence, offering an additional layer of assurance for legislative compliance.

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