What Is Carrageenan, and Is It Bad for You?
Carrageenan is a seaweed extract used to thicken and stabilize food. The FDA’s regulation describes it as the refined hydrocolloid prepared by water extraction from certain red seaweeds, and allows it in food in the amount necessary as an emulsifier, stabilizer or thickener, except in standardized foods that do not provide for that use.
Its place in organic food has been debated. In a 2018 final rule, the USDA said the National Organic Standards Board had recommended removing carrageenan from the substances allowed in organic products, because the board determined alternatives such as gellan gum, guar gum or xanthan gum are available.
The USDA did not follow that recommendation. Its Agricultural Marketing Service renewed carrageenan along with 16 other substances, saying public comments gave sufficient evidence that carrageenan continues to be necessary for handling agricultural products because wholly natural substitutes are unavailable. The rule took effect May 29, 2018.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 172.620, the food additive carrageenan is the refined hydrocolloid prepared by aqueous extraction from certain red seaweeds, used in food under prescribed conditions. eCFR, 21 CFR 172.620 ↗
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 172.620, carrageenan is used in the amount necessary for an emulsifier, stabilizer or thickener in foods, except for standardized foods that do not provide for such use. eCFR, 21 CFR 172.620 ↗
- Regulatory filingThe USDA says the National Organic Standards Board recommended removing carrageenan from the organic National List because it determined alternatives such as gellan gum, guar gum or xanthan gum are available. Federal Register, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service ↗
- Regulatory filingThe USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service renewed carrageenan in a rule effective May 29, 2018, finding sufficient evidence that it remains necessary for handling agricultural products because wholly natural substitutes are unavailable. Federal Register, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.