[PROBLEMS] To provide a thickener for liquid foods which can be directly added, without a need for heating or cooling, to a thick liquid food (a liquid diet, etc.) at room temperature or in a refrigerated state while forming no undissolved mass and by which the thickness (viscosity) of the food can be appropriately controlled depending on the addition level thereof in using, and a method of producing the same. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A thickener for liquid foods containing xanthan gum and an organic acid and/or an inorganic acid having a higher degree of dissociation than lactic acid. A thickener for liquid foods which further contains salt(s) of the organic acid and/or the inorganic acid as described above. A thickener for liquid foods wherein the organic acid is citric acid and the inorganic acid is phosphoric acid. A thickener for liquid foods which further contains a hardly digestible dextrin. A method of producing a thickener for liquid foods which comprises coating and/or coating and granulating xanthan gum by using an organic acid and/or an inorganic acid having a higher degree of dissociation than lactic acid.
