Abstract: A novel heteropolysaccharide produced by strains of Enterobacter sakazakii, such as Enterobacter sakazakii ATCC 53017, Enterobacter sakazakii ATCC 29004, and Enterobacter sakazakii ATCC 12868, is disclosed. The heteropolysaccharide comprises from about 13 to about 22 percent by weight of L-fucose, from about 19 to about 24 percent by weight of D-galactose, from about 23 to about 30 percent by weight of D-glucose, from about 0 to about 8 percent by weight of D-mannose, from about 29 to about 32 percent by weight of glucuronic acid, said percent ranges based on total carbohydrate; the heteropolysaccharide further comprising about 1 to about 1.5 equivalents of ester per equivalent of neutral sugar. The heteropolysaccharide has many uses as a suspending, thickening, or stabilizing agent, and is particularly useful as a frictional drag reduction agent in aqueous systems.