What the Heck is Carrageenan?

carrageenanlabelIf you are a label reader, then you’ve no doubt seen carrageenan on the line-up. It is a thickening and stabilizing agent put into many different foods, and it is derived from a particular seaweed. That sounds like it would be healthy, right? But, apparently, it is NOT.

I became increasingly aware of this additive after seeing it in yogurts, cottage cheese, almond milk, ice cream, any many other items including organic versions. It is even found in deli meats and infant formulas. Actually, the list goes on and on and on.

Looking into it, I was not pleased to see the various health concerns associated with its use. According to The Cornucopia Institute, “Animal studies have repeatedly shown that food-grade carrageenan causes gastrointestinal inflammation and higher rates of intestinal lesions, ulcerations, and even malignant tumors. Despite the evidence showing the risks in eating carrageenan, it’s still approved for use in organic food where it’s most often used as a stabilizer.”

Dr. Andrew Weil has also been vocal about the possible risks, as have many other doctors, health practitioners and nutritionists.

One company, thankfully, has decided to remove it from their products in 2015, due to consumer demand. Whitewave Foods (makers of Silk and Horizon brands) made an official announcement just a few weeks ago. (Read one of many recent reports here: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/WhiteWave-pulling-carrageenan-from-Silk-Horizon)

If you are a data-seeking-show-me-the-studies kind of person, I’d recommend starting here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242073/

Meanwhile, this might be a good time to look more closely at those labels . . . and consider avoiding this highly controversial, and very possibly dangerous, ingredient.

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NOTE #1. The Cornucopia Institute offers a “Shopping Guide to Avoiding Organic Foods with Carrageenan” here: http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/

NOTE #2: If you wish to take action, here’s a link to a petition directed to the FDA, asking for the removal of carrageenan: https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/fda-remove-carrageenan-our-food-supply-stop-making-us-sick

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