Yes, it almost has no side effects and the safety has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
EFSA
After the studies of genotoxicity, chronic toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and others, EFSA concluded no need to establish an ADI and no safety concern for the use of pectin (E 440i) and amidated pectin (E 440ii) as food additives. (3)
FDA
Pectin is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and can be used as an emulsifier, stabilizer and thickener in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. (4)
JECFA
Function Class: Gelling agent, thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier. (5)
Acceptable daily intake: ADI “not specific” set since 1981. (6)
http://www.chinafooding.com/Pectin
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