Carrageenan
The short version
A seaweed-derived gelling agent — central to plant milks, ice cream, and processed meats; under scrutiny for gut microbiome effects.
A seaweed-derived thickener. It's approved and widely used, but some studies suggest a broken-down form can irritate the gut, and that debate isn't fully settled. That uncertainty is why we flag it.
Safety profile
ADI not specified by JECFA but use is restricted in infant formula in the EU and several other jurisdictions. The degraded form (poligeenan, not approved for food) is an established gastrointestinal inflammatory agent in animal models. Whether food-grade carrageenan has similar effects in humans is debated; recent in-vitro and animal studies have raised concerns about gut microbiome and intestinal inflammation.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives (EFSA Journal 2018;16(4):5238) — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), EFSA Journal (via PubMed Central), 2018. EFSA temporary group ADI 75 mg/kg bw; not authorised in EU infant formula (FC 13.1.1)
- WHO JECFA database — Carrageenan (INS 407), evaluations 2007 (68th meeting) and 2014 (79th meeting) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2014. JECFA ADI not specified; infant formula evaluation
- 21 CFR 172.620 — Carrageenan, eCFR current as of 2026-10-13 — U.S. eCFR (Office of the Federal Register / GPO), 2026. US authorisation as a food additive (emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener)
- USDA AMS — National Organic Program: Notification of 2018 Sunset Review (83 FR 14347, 4 April 2018) — U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (Federal Register via govinfo), 2018. NOSB recommended removal; USDA renewed carrageenan on the National List
Checked against these sources on .
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