Is Carrageenan Safe?

Is Carrageenan safe to consume? Here's what our analysis found across 895 products in our database.

Also known as: E407, Irish Moss extract, Chondrus crispus extract

FDA Status
FDA-approved as a food additive (21 CFR 172.620). GRAS for use in infant formula (21 CFR 172.626). FDA distinguishes bet...
EU (EFSA) Status
EFSA re-evaluated in 2018 and maintained approval. However, EFSA recommended that carrageenan (E 407) be excluded from i...

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): 75 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA/JECFA)

What Is Carrageenan?

A family of sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweed. Used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in dairy products, plant-based milks, deli meats, and infant formula.

How Does It Work?

Food-grade carrageenan (undegraded, molecular weight >100 kDa) is not absorbed systemically. Concerns center on degraded carrageenan (poligeenan, MW <50 kDa), which has been shown to cause intestinal inflammation in animal models. Some researchers (Tobacman, 2001) argue that food-grade carrageenan may degrade in the acidic stomach environment, though this is debated.

Commonly found in: Almond milk, Chocolate milk, Ice cream, Cottage cheese, Deli meats, Infant formula (US only)

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Why Do People Avoid It?

Regulatory Timeline

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Scientific References

  1. Tobacman (2001). Review of harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animal experiments. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(10), 983-994
  2. EFSA (2018). Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a). EFSA Journal, 16(4), 5238
  3. McKim et al. (2019). Carrageenan: A Critical Review. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 49(3), 174-188

📊 Top Categories Containing Carrageenan

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt 101en:frozen-foods 85en:desserts 80en:frozen-desserts 68en:ice-creams-and-sorbets 58en:ice-creams 50

Products Containing Carrageenan (895 found)

ProductBrandScore
STUFFED GRILLED CHEESEHeinz Frozen Food Company0/100
STUFFED GRILLED CHEESEHeinz Frozen Food Company0/100
APPLE CINNAMON SOFT BAKED BREAKFAST BARS, APPLE CINNAMONThe Kellogg Company 0/100
MARSHMALLOW TREATSWal-Mart Stores, Inc.0/100
MAINE BLUEBERRY BELGIAN WAFFLE CONE ICE CREAM, MAINE BLUEBERRY BELGIAN WAFFLE CONEThe Kroger Co.0/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Cherry 1.3ozKellogg Company US0/100
GRAND CHEESECAKE SELECTION, WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY, SNICKERS BAR CHUNKS, CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, STRAWBERRY TOPPED ORIGINALThe Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Inc.0/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Raspberry 1.3ozKellogg Company US1/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Mixed Berry 1.3ozKellogg Company US1/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Strawberry 1.3ozKellogg Company US1/100
Nutri Grain Soft Baked Breakfast BarsKellogg's1/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Strawberry 20.8ozKellogg Company US1/100
BLACK RASPBERRY DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNK ICE CREAM, BLACK RASPBERRY DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKThe Kroger Co.2/100
BLACK RASPBERRY DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNK ICE CREAM, BLACK RASPBERRY DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKThe Kroger Co.2/100
Denali Mint Moose Tracks Ice CreamPrivate Selection3/100
STARBURST FRUIT FLAVORED SNACKSFRUIT BY THE FOOT3/100
KELLOGG'S POP-TARTS STRAWBERRY BANANA 7OZ, STRAWBERRY; BANANAThe Kellogg Company 3/100
pop tarts bites—4/100
Morningstar Farms Hot Dogs Veggie Dogs 8.4ozKellogg Company US4/100
Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars Apple Cinnamon 20.8ozKellogg Company US4/100

Showing 20 of 895 products.

Test Products for Carrageenan →

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This page provides ingredient information for educational purposes. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Is Carrageenan Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/carrageenan
MLA"Is Carrageenan Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/carrageenan.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/carrageenan">Is Carrageenan Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsafetycarrageenan, title = {Is Carrageenan Safe? FDA Status, Health Effects & Alternatives | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredient-safety/carrageenan}, note = {Retrieved 2026-04-05} }