Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on xanthan gum as a feed additive for all animal species. Xanthan gum is manufactured using different production strains belonging to the X. campestris species. The identity of the strains producing xanthan gum was not unambiguously established, data on antimicrobial susceptibility were incomplete, and it was not possible to exclude the presence in the additive of viable cells/DNA of the production strains. Consequently, no conclusions could be drawn on the safety of the X. campestris strains ■■■■■. Considering the above and in the absence of adequate information on the additive under assessment, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of xanthan gum produced by the X. campestris strains ■■■■■ for the target species, the consumer, the user and the environment. Xanthan gum is considered as an efficacious stabiliser and thickener in feedingstuffs for all animal species at the proposed conditions of use.