Why avoid carrageenan

Is carrageenan safe to eat?

While carrageenan is an approved additive, some people still have concerns about its safety. However, research is limited to verify these safety concerns.

Carrageenan is a common food additive extracted from red seaweed. Manufacturers often use it as a thickening agent.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the additive for use, but concerns about its safety remain.

Some scientists believe that carrageenan can cause inflammation, digestive problems, such as bloating and irritable bowel disease (IBD), and even colon cancer.

However, the validity of these claims is hotly debated because the only supporting evidence comes from studies in cells and animals.

In this article, we take a closer look at the risks and uses of carrageenan.

Different forms of carrageenan have different uses and potential risks.

Food-grade carrageenan is extracted from red seaweed and processed with alkaline substances.

When carrageenan is processed with acid, it creates a substance called degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, which carries significant health warnings.

Poligeenan is an inflammatory substance. Researchers often use it to test new anti-inflammatory drugs in the laboratory. Poligeenan is not approved as a food additive.

Degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, is not safe to eat. Research in animals indicates that it causes gut tumors and ulcers, and may even trigger colon cancer.

Because of the possible danger, fewer studies have investigated the potential effects in humans.

Findings like these have led the International Agency for Research in Cancer to list poligeenan as a possible human carcinogen.

This means that the agency has reviewed the evidence that poligeenan can cause cancer in animals and concluded that it may have the same effect in humans.

Some scientists are concerned that food-grade carrageenan is also dangerous. This is because various studies, dating back to the 1960s, show that the substance may degrade and become toxic when it mixes with stomach acid.

The medical community is unsure to what extent carrageenan degrades in the digestive system. This means that we do not know if any amount is toxic. It is important to note that no related studies have involved human participants.

Findings of a review from 2017 indicated that even non-degraded carrageenan can cause inflammation and bowel disorders, suggesting that this substance may contribute to ulcers and IBD.

However, authors of a 2018 review concluded that there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about the exact health effects of carrageenan.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that eliminating carrageenan from the diet can provide relief from digestive problems, such as bloating and IBD. However, these reports are not the result of scientific research.

Carrageenan has a variety of uses.

Though it has no flavor or nutritional value, it is a useful thickening agent and stabilizer. Some manufacturers include it in products like chocolate milk, to stop the milk from separating.

It can also substitute for fat in non- or low-fat foods and dairy replacement products aimed at the vegan market.

Some manufacturers use carrageenan as a binder in processed deli meats. Others inject it into pre-cooked poultry to tenderize the meat and keep it juicy for longer.

Companies often use carrageenan as a vegan alternative to gelatin, in desserts, for example. It is also a common ingredient in canned pet food.

Non-food products, such as air freshener gels and toothpaste also frequently contain carrageenan.

The FDA requires manufacturers to state whether products contain carrageenan on labeling.

There is some debate over whether the findings of animal- and cell-based studies can apply to people.

If they can, the possible side effects of consuming carrageenan include:

Because carrageenan has a variety of uses, it is included in a wide range of products.

The following foods commonly contain carrageenan:

• Dairy: whipping cream, chocolate milk, ice cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, and childrens squeezable yogurt products
• Dairy alternatives: soy milk, almond milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, and soy puddings and other desserts
• Meats: sliced turkey, prepared chicken, and deli meats
• Prepared foods: canned soups and broths, microwavable dinners, and frozen pizzas

Some nutritional or diet drinks contain carrageenan, as do some supplements, including chewable vitamins.

Because it can be used as a gelatin alternative, some manufacturers use carrageenan in jelly-based products, including vegan jelly desserts.

In the U.S., any products that contain carrageenan must list it as an ingredient. A person should be able to avoid carrageenan by checking labeling carefully.

Carrageenans texture-enhancing qualities, for example, can be replicated using:

• locust bean gum
• gum arabic
• alginate
• guar gum
• xanthan gum

When a drink that tends to separate, such as chocolate milk, does not contain a stabilizer, a person may need to shake the bottle. This does not affect the quality or safety of the product.

There has long been concern and debate over the safety of consuming carrageenan. This food additive is produced by mixing a seaweed extract with alkaline substances.

Scientists widely accept that degraded carrageenan, or poligeenan, can trigger cancer and other health issues. Poligeenan is made by mixing the same seaweed extract with acid. It is a powerful inflammatory agent used in laboratories.

Studies in animals indicate that some food-grade carrageenan can degrade, becoming poligeenan, when it is exposed to stomach acid.

These studies have not shown conclusively whether the amount of degraded carrageenan is dangerous. However, because of the potential risk, no researchers have conducted studies in humans.

In the U.S., the FDA have approved carrageenan for use as a food additive.

Some people report that eliminating carrageenan from the diet has helped relieve symptoms of stomach discomfort, such as bloating and IBD. However, no scientific research supports these claims.

Should You Be Saying Carragee-nah to Carrageenan?

When you think of eating seaweed, you probably think of spicy tuna rolls alongside a steaming bowl of edamame.

But surprisingly, a common food additive, carrageenan, comes from seaweed and is found in soy milk, coffee creamer, turkey bacon, and ice cream. What the kelp?

If youre wondering what that means, if its safe, and what carrageenan even is, weve got you covered. Heres everything you need to know about carrageenan.

Carrageenan is a common food additive thats derived from Irish Moss, a type of red seaweed that grows off the Atlantic coast in Europe. Blarney!

Its an excellent thickener and emulsifier meaning it can thicken foods and keep ingredients from separating. Its most commonly found in processed dairy and dairy alternative products. Mmm, just where we like our seaweed derivatives!

But really, though, carrageenans gelatin-like properties have paved the way for things like plant-based milks and creamers, vegan ice cream, vegan yogurt, and other dairy alt products.

Alas, like all good things in life, it has a dark side possibly.

According to the FDA, carrageenan is totally safe. In fact, its GRAS Generally Recognized As Safe. (Yup, thats a thing!)

However, theres been a years-long controversy over carrageenan that rages on.

According to a 2018 review, several animal studies have noted a link between carrageenan and digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease and dysbiosis of the gut (which means your gut bacteria arent living their best lives).

Some research also suggests that carrageenan can damage the lining of the gut, cause intestinal tumors, and weaken the immune system.

However, most of these effects were found from a specific type of carrageenan used in research studies called poligeenan. Its a possible human carcinogen, which means theres some evidence it may cause cancer. And its not an FDA-approved food additive, so you wont find it in food.

On the other hand, research from 2014 suggests that carrageenan seems to have some health benefits too like strengthening immune activity and acting as an antioxidant.

But most of these studies were done in test tubes or on animals, using larger quantities of carrageenan than are used in the food we eat. So, does any of this even apply to us?

What the human research says

Although its pretty limited, there is some research investigating the effects of carrageenan on human beings.

Researchers have noted a link between carrageenan and inflammatory bowel disease. A small 2017 study suggests that carrageenan may cause relapse in people who have ulcerative colitis thats in remission. No, thanks!

Other research suggests a link between carrageenan and poor blood sugar control, which can lead to inflammation, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes.

Until theres more definitive research on the types of carrageenan used in food and how they affect us, there are compelling reasons to keep eating carrageenan (its made dairy alts a THING) and compelling reasons not to (it might cause an IBD flare-up).

Carrageenan is mostly found in dairy products and dairy alternatives but is also commonly added to processed meat products (especially if theyre made from leaner meats like turkey or chicken).

Heres a short list of some of the most common carrageenan-containing foods:

• processed dairy products: half-and-half, coffee creamers, heavy cream, yogurt, ice cream, ready-to-drink protein shakes
• dairy alternatives: vegan coffee creamers, plant-based milks, dairy-free ice cream, vegan yogurts
• meats: deli meats, hot dogs, other low fat processed meats like turkey bacon and chicken sausage

Although it appears to be mostly safe, you might want to avoid carrageenan if you have digestive problems especially if you have an inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease.

Unfortunately, saying carragee-nah means youre gonna be checking a lot of ingredient labels (like, all of them). Even if you avoid dairy and dairy alternatives, carrageenan is a common enough food additive that youll need to check the labels on all processed foods you include in your diet.

And because its vegan and derived from natural seaweed, its much more likely to be used in natural/healthy/plant-based food products so your otherwise healthy snacks might be hiding a little seaweed surprise.

Luckily, some of the more savvy food manufacturers have recognized the demand for carrageenan-free foods and label their products carrageenan-free so you can avoid an ingredients scavenger hunt.

You can also keep an eye out for the USDA Organic label, which the National Organic Standards Board voted to remove from any products containing carrageenan in 2016.

• Carrageenan is a seaweed-based food additive thats generally pretty safe, but there is some controversy surrounding its safety.
• Its found in dairy products, dairy alternatives, and some processed meats. Because its naturally derived, its also much more likely to be hiding in healthy processed foods.
• Its been linked to inflammation and digestive damage, but the jury is still out on whether its definitively harmful to human health.
• Avoiding carrageenan is no easy task. It will require meticulous label-checking. But more food manufacturers are getting on board with offering carrageenan-free options.

The Carrageenan Controversy

The Carrageenan Controversy

Carrageenan has been used in traditional food preparation for hundreds of years and is an ingredient in many organic and vegan foods. But now critics are calling for a ban. Is carrageenan safe? Nutrition Diva sorts through the evidence

By Nutrition Diva Monica Reinagel

Carrageenan has been the subject of a lot of controversy and several of you have asked me to comment. For those who may not be up to speed on the topic, let me start with a quick overview.

What Is Carrageenan?Carrageenan is an extract from a red seaweed commonly known as Irish Moss. Thisedible seaweedis native to the British Isles, where it's been used in traditional cooking for hundreds of years. It's also widely used in the food industry, mostly as a thickener and gelling agent. You'll find it in ice cream, cottage cheese,non-dairy milks, jelly, pudding, and infant formula. Unlike gelatin, which is made from animal products, carageenan is appropriate for vegans.

Who would have thought that this ancient, natural, plant-based ingredient would become center of a swirling controversy? But it certainly has. Some scientists havepresented evidencethat carrageenan is highly inflammatory and toxic to the digestive tract, and claim that it may be reponsible for colitis,IBS,rheumatoid arthritis, and even colon cancer. Equally respected scientists havedetailed the reasonsthat this evidence is flawed and misleading, concluding that there is no valid reason to ban its use.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Continue reading on QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Carrageenan: What It Is and How to Avoid It

Carrageenan sounds harmless enough at first glance: a derivative of red seaweed used as a thickener, stabilizer or emulsifier in many dairy foods and dairy alternatives.

But research has actually linked carrageenan to increased inflammation in the body particularly gastrointestinal inflammation which can cause colitis-like disease and tumor promotion. Yikes!

The really scary thing is, carrageenan is found in SO MUCH of what we eat, even organic foods and other favorites of many healthy eaters. While its probably not harmful in very small amounts, if youre relying on carrageenan-containing foods regularly, you may be putting your health at risk.

Here are just a handful of popular foods that contain carrageenan, as well as some better alternatives that do not.

By no means is this an exhaustive list. There are MANY other prepared foods, dairy foods, non-dairy alternatives, juices, etc both organic and conventional that contain carrageenan.

Heres a very extensive shopping guide to help you avoid products with carrageenan.

In general, the best ways to minimize your exposure to carrageenan are:

1. Limit packaged and processed foods.
2. Read ingredients lists and choose brands that do not use carrageenan.
3. Make food from scratch when possible (like almond milk its easy!)