A food additive made from the sap of the acacia tree, gum arabic, also called acacia gum, is harvested from wild trees in the Middle East as well as parts of Africa and west Asia. Gum arabic is added to a wide variety of foods, acting as a stabilizer to help bind the foods together, and when used in larger quantities can be a source of soluble fiber.

Many hard candies are made with gum arabic, which helps prevent the candy from sticking to the teeth and promotes a longer-lasting treat, according to Francis Thevenet in the book "Food Stabilisers, Thickeners and Gelling Agents." Gum arabic is often used in soft-molded candies, such as gum drops, and chewy varieties of candy as well. Sugar-free hard candies and low-fat ice cream can also be made with gum arabic.

Gum arabic is included in the ingredient list of many types of soda. The additive absorbs liquid, which helps to thicken the soda so it has a richer feeling as it comes into contact with your tongue, according to Andrew Schloss, author of "Homemade Soda." That slightly thicker texture also means that the soda sticks to your tongue for short periods of time, which allows you to savor the sweet flavor. Gum arabic is also used as a stabilizer in beer, preventing the final product from fermenting once the brewing process is complete.

Honey-roasted and other seasoned nuts often contain gum arabic. The additive helps the salt, sugar or other spices stick to the nuts before the roasting process, according to Thevenet. This process works because the gum arabic is wet so the spices more easily stick. Gum arabic is also used for candy-coated nuts, such as almonds, and accomplishes the same goal of helping the coating fully stick to the outside of the nut.

Low-fat salad dressing often contain gums, including gum arabic, to replace some of the fat and to help prevent the oil and water from separating. The additive might be an ingredient in mustard, dried egg products, creamy dairy foods, sherbet, sorbet, clotted cream, cheese and dairy-based desserts, such as pudding, according to the Codex General Standard for Food Additives. Gum acacia is naturally high in soluble fiber and might also be added to certain packaged baked goods, rolled oats, breakfast cereals and bread to boost the soluble fiber content.