Xanthan gum granulated material and composition for thickening use

2:

• A thickening composition comprising the granulated xanthan gum according to claim 1.

3:

• The thickening composition according to claim 2, further comprising a water-soluble dispersant.

4:

• The thickening composition according to claim 3, wherein
• a mass ratio of the xanthan gum:the water-soluble dispersant in the thickening composition is 45:55 to 98:2.

5:

• The thickening composition according to claim 3, wherein
• the water-soluble dispersant is a metal salt-enclosing dextrin.

6:

• The thickening composition according to claim 3, which is obtained by granulating the granulated xanthan gum and the water-soluble dispersant.

7:

• The thickening composition according to claim 2, which is used for a swallowing aid.

8:

• A food comprising the thickening composition according to claim 2.

9:

• A method for producing a thickening composition, comprising the step of mixing or granulating a granulated xanthan gum and a water-soluble dispersant, the granulated xanthan gum having been prepared such that an amount of granules having a degree of hardness of 2 N or higher and lower than 8 N is 5% by mass or higher and an amount of granules having a degree of hardness of 8 N or higher is 20% by mass or lower, relative to 100% by mass of the granulated xanthan gum.