Carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks. It’s a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed (also called Irish moss). You’ll often find this ingredient in nut milks, meat products, and yogurt.
Since the late 1960s, there’s been controversy surrounding the health effects of carrageenan. Some evidence suggests that carrageenan triggers inflammation, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and that it damages your digestive system. People have been petitioning for products with carrageenan to be labeled with a warning or removed entirely.
Dangers and side effects of carrageenan
Products with carrageenan may be labeled as “natural,” but limited studies show that carrageenan may promote or cause:
* inflammation
* bloating
* irritable bowel syndrome
* glucose intolerance
* colon cancer
* food allergies
The Food and Drug Administration still approves this ingredient. But in 2016, the National Organic Standards Board voted to remove carrageenan from their approved list. This means foods made with carrageenan can no longer be labeled “USDA organic.”
Carrageenan tends to be in vegan and vegetarian products. Since it’s a plant, manufacturers use it to replace gelatin, which is made from animal parts.
Common sources of carrageenan
* chocolate milk
* cottage cheese
* cream
* ice cream
* almond milk
* dairy alternatives, such as vegan cheeses or nondairy desserts
* coconut milk
* creamers
* hemp milk
* rice milk
* soy milk
* deli meats
I checked the ingredients of the Knudsen’s cottage cheese in the fridge... no carrageenan.
Thanks for the great information. It seems that Carrageenan is used in a wide assortment of foods. Wait until Robert F. Kennedy Jr finds out Carrageenan’s contribution to health issues.
oh crap.
I love chocolate almond milk, and almond ice cream. (cannot do milk)
I guess I am a goner, and I have only lived to be 94.