Allervibe
E407
Carrageenan
A polysaccharide extracted from red seaweed, used to thicken and stabilize.
i Additive Details
| Is E407 Carrageenan safe?
Food-grade carrageenan is approved as safe by EFSA and the FDA. A body of animal research suggests it may contribute to gut inflammation in some individuals. The strongest concerns relate to 'degraded' carrageenan (poligeenan), which is not food-approved. Some inflammatory bowel disease patients report symptom improvement when avoiding it.
| Uses
Thickens, gels, and stabilizes plant-based milks, dairy desserts, ice cream, deli meats, infant formula in some regions, jellies, sauces, and toothpaste. Provides a creamy mouthfeel at low concentrations.
| Interactions
Forms gels in the presence of calcium and potassium ions. Functionally interchangeable with other hydrocolloids like locust bean gum (E410) and xanthan gum (E415) in many formulations.
| Origin
Extracted from red seaweed species (Chondrus crispus, Eucheuma cottonii, Kappaphycus alvarezii). Three main types are produced: kappa, iota, and lambda, each with different gelling behavior.
| Daily Intake
JECFA established a temporary 'ADI not specified' in 2014. EFSA's 2018 re-evaluation kept the previous group ADI of 75 mg per kg of body weight per day, with a call for more data on infants.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E415 Xanthan gum A polysaccharide produced by bacterial fermentation, used as a thickener and stabilizer.
- E414 Acacia gum (Gum arabic) A soluble fibre made from the hardened sap of Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees, used as a thickener, emulsifier and glazing agent.
- E410 Locust bean gum A galactomannan gum milled from the seeds of the carob tree, used to thicken and stabilize.
- E412 Guar gum A galactomannan gum milled from guar beans, a legume, used to thicken and stabilize.
- E440 Pectins A family of plant polysaccharides extracted mainly from citrus peel and apple pomace, used as a gelling agent.
- E466 Carboxymethyl cellulose A chemically modified, water-soluble cellulose used as a thickener, stabilizer and bulking agent, also labelled cellulose gum.
Spot Carrageenan with Allervibe
Reading every line of the ingredient list to find a single additive takes time. Allervibe pulls the full additive breakdown from each scan so you can see Carrageenan at a glance.
- ▮ Scan a barcode to see every additive listed for that product
- ▲ Open any additive for plain-language information
- ↻ Save products to favorites so repeat checks are instant