If you’ve ever purchased store-bought almond or coconut milk, you may have noticed an ingredient called Carrageenan on the carton. This hard-to-pronounce little food additive is the reason I make my own homemade almond milk and homemade coconut milk, but it seems that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to this little known ingredient.
What is Carrageenan?
According to the Google:
Carrageenans or carrageenins are a family of linear sulfated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds. They are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties.
Edible seaweeds, like kelp and Nori, right?
The Problem with Carrageenan
Not so much…
It is important to note that Carrageenan is not digestible and has no nutritional value. It is often used because it thickens and emulsifies products and it is often found even in organic and “natural” products.
It may seem that a simple product derived from seaweed should be non-menacing, and I wish it were. This article explains some of the potential problems:
Although derived from a natural source, it appears to be particularly destructive to the digestive system, triggering an immune response similar to that your body has when invaded by pathogens like Salmonella. The result: “It predictably causes inflammation, which can lead to ulcerations and bleeding,” explains veteran researcher Joanne Tobacman, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois School of Medicine at Chicago. She says the food ingredient irritates by activating an immune response that dials up inflammation. Her previous work showed a concerning connection between carrageenan and gastrointestinal cancer in lab animals, and she’s involved with ongoing research funded through the National Institutes of Health that is investigating carrageenan’s effect on ulcerative colitis and other diseases like diabetes.
The concern over food-grade carrageenan isn’t new. Beginning in the 1960s, researchers started linking the ingredient to gastrointestinal disease in lab animals, including ulcerative colitis, intestinal lesions, and colon cancer.
Joanne K. Tobacman, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine is one of the leading researchers in the field of digestive health sheds some interesting light on the topic:
Dr. Tobacman said that her research has shown that exposure causes inflammation and that when we consume processed foods containing it, we ingest enough to cause inflammation in our bodies. She explained that all forms of carrageenan are capable of causing inflammation. This is bad news. We know that chronic inflammation is a root cause of many serious diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and cancer.
Dr. Tobacman also told the board that in the past, drug investigators actually used carrageenan to cause inflammation in tissues in order to test the anti-inflammatory properties of new drugs. And she reported further that when laboratory mice are exposed to low concentrations of carrageenan for 18 days, they develop “profound” glucose intolerance and impaired insulin action, both of which can lead to diabetes.
To make things slightly more complicated, there are two forms: degraded and undegraded carrageenan. Technically, undegraded is approved for use in food, while degraded is not.
Degraded carrageenan is also called poligeenan. Chris Kresser looked more closely at the research, and found that many of the animal studies are done using poligeenan and not undegraded carrageenan, which further muddies the water.
Kresser makes this important distinction:
One important difference is that while poligeenan can cause cancer on its own when given in high enough concentrations, undegraded carrageenan has only ever been shown to accelerate cancer formation when administered with a known carcinogen. In other words, food-grade carrageenan has not been shown to cause cancer in animal models. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is is in the clear when it comes to cancer, but contrary to popular belief, it is not a known carcinogen.
When we separate the research on poligeenan and undegraded carrageenan, we find that it is still linked to increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut), intestinal irritation, and colon ulcers. Limited human studies showed an increase in inflammation and cell arrest.
Where is Carrageenan Found?
When you start reading labels, you’ll be amazed at the number of products that contain carrageenan! Most infant formulas do, as well as most store-bought milk alternatives. Many creams, creamers and dairy products also contain carrageenan.
I recommend checking out this shopping guide for avoiding foods with Carrageenan.
Our solution is to find carrageenan free store-bought products, or save money by making our own. If you’ve been consuming store bought almond or coconut milk that contains this additive, consider using these recipes and making your own:
Almond Milk Recipe
Coconut Milk Recipe
The Bottom Line
It may not be as bad as some sources portray, but there is evidence that it can be harmful, especially if consumed regularly.
Many people report reacting negatively with symptoms like digestive troubles, skin rashes, and other health problems.
The research is shaky on if it is a carcinogen or not, but I’m yet to see any research touting its health benefits. Our family avoids it for this reason, especially as it is just used for thickening products and does not serve a nutritional purpose.
Additional Reading
- Chris Kresser’s Research
- Public health and carrageenan regulation: a review and analysis
- Review of harmful gastrointestinal effects in animal experiments.
- Exposure to common food additive carrageenan leads to reduced sulfatase activity and increase in sulfated
- glycosaminoglycans in human epithelial cells
- Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills
Have you ever consumed a food with carrageenan? Did I miss any foods that contain it? Leave a comment below with foods you’ve found that contain it and that we should watch out for…
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
🙁 My SO Delicious coffee creamer has it.
So doesn’t my International coffee creamer that I have been using for YEARS. It says less than 1%. sigh.
I started making my own coffee creamer with organic sweetened condensed milk and vanilla almond milk and add some vanilla extract. The store bought coffee creamers have a lot of artificial additives as well as carrageenan and this does not. Make sure you buy almond milk without carrageenan. It has a lot of sugar but far healthier than the store bought brands.
Could you give me the measurements you use for this homemade creamer? Also, what brand of Vanilla Almond Milk is carrageean free?
Rosalie, I’m not the one who wrote the comment above, but since Beverly hasn’t answered you, I will. Try experimenting with the amounts of the 3 ingredients she suggested. Make small batches to taste, until you get the ratios the way you like it. Also, a brand of almond milk without carrageenan is Silk Almond Milk, in vanilla flavor or unsweetened.
It has gellan n locust bean gum though
I just saw carrageenan in one facial mask that I have used a few times. Is this a problem? I left the mask on all night.
Thanks
Thank you! I had no idea about this ingredient and bad effects it can have on the body. It’s tricky when people are trying to use healthier products and weird, harmful ingredients are slipped in by the companies.
🙂
My niece has a seafood allergy so severe that she also reacts to anything containing carrageenan. Our family learned pretty quickly how extensively it is used. I was suspicious but hadn’t researched it yet. Thank you for this information!
I just recently discovered that I have an allergic reaction to carrageenan, however didn’t realize a (possible) connection to my shrimp allergy. Glad I saw your comment.
I have been suffering from chronic muscle and joint pain for the past 20 years. After reading this, I checked the label of the coffee mate I started drinking close to 20 years ago and guess what? It has this ingredient! Ugh. I am stopping it and will post again with an update in a few weeks.
Wow! I’ve really been adding coconut milk (one of the brands you pictured above) everyday to my smoothie and to my turmeric tea thinking I was doing a healthy thing. I’m not saying it’s the cause, but I have had a strange unexplained rash. I’ve done food eliminations from my diet, but not the coconut milk. There’s so much to know about our food sources, additives, etc. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I always look for alternative milk without carrageenan. It hard to find products without. Even dairy products like cream cheese have it. Carrageenan can irritate IBS.
It’s definitely in most dairy products…sour cream, whipping cream, ice cream :(. I’ve also found it in toothpaste as well. I live in Canada and found Silk brand Almond Milk does not have carrageenan. Thanks for the info!!!
Thanks for the comment I’ve been using their almond coconut milk blend, but want to try this to save money.
I would like to know if there ANY source of buttermilk without the carrageenan. I love buttermilk before I go to bed with cornbread. I don’t know if I have any problems from it or not but I get terrible cramps in my feet at night and pain in my knees.
I am 82 years old and I try very hard to eat healthy. I don’t take any medicine and I certainly don’t want to start taking any if I can possibly avoid it. Is there ANY WAY I can get buttermilk without carrageenan in it? I would make my own but I guess I would have to buy the milk to make it and then it would probably have it in it also.
When I was growing up I used to churn the milk into buttermilk and butter but we had our own cows.
I would appreciate any comments on this – Thanks for the health articles – I try to keep myself informed
On amazon.com you can buy a buttermilk culture packet to add to a warm milk (1quart)… and the next day..YUM a delicious buttermilk with NO carageenan! Then.. when you want to make your next batch, you just add 1//3 of a cup of your old buttermilk to another quart of warmed milk and you can keep it going for a long time! Plus whole milk buttermilk is hard to find (its usually lowfat) so you can choose
to make it wth whole milk … its very creamy and delicious!!!
In case this helps, I’ve had similar symptoms and determined it was a reaction to corn products…..even the rotisserie chicken I was eating since the animals are corn fed. Corn is one of the highest lectin containing foods (which leads to inflammation, psoriasis flares for me personally and a huge list of other health issues). Thought I would throw it out there in case it’s the corn meal (or maybe gluten) in the cornbread that’s actually giving you problems.
Still eating “corn bread”??? Do you know that Monsanto GMO’s have polluted corn and grains. Suggest, you look into eliminating the nightly corn bread. What you don’t see can cause problems internally. As you probably know. Best to you in researching .
Shirley…read up on magnesium regarding the cramping muscles…”Greenmedinfo.com” and “Naturalnews.com” are excellent sources of honest information.
Dairy is a known inflammatory. That could be causing your pain since it’s often joint pain related.
Try removing it from your diet altogether and see what happens.
It’s in Safeway’s Signature Select Orange Sherbet. And Nestle’s Coffee-mate.
Ugh. The ubiquity of carageenan drives me crazy.
Carageenan is especially problematic for those of us with Graves’ disease or other forms of hyperthyroidism. All forms of seaweed (and shellfish, too!) are extremely high in iodine which can stimulate thyroid activity, leading to weight loss, heart irregularities, poor digestion, and more.
Thanks for sharing the info about Graves. One more thing for us to look out for.
what about hypothyroidism ? I know that is misspelled but you get it I know.
Hypothyroidism is not a misspelling. It is a disorder of the thyroid wherein it is not active enough. If you meant hyperthyroidism, that means an overactive thyroid. The two extremes both result in physical problems, just different ones.
I keep getting digestive issues after having my morning coffee with Sweet Italian Cream in it. I finally read the label and looked up all the ingredients. The most likely culprit is probably the carrageenan. I am going to stop using it and see if this is the reason I keep having tummy troubles.
I was using evaporated milk in my coffee for years. Today I read the ingredients and it has carrageenan in it. I have ulcerative colitis, so will never use again.
Lunch meats contain also, even nitrite free 🙁
Even “nitrite-free” lunchmeats contain nitrite if they contain celery juice (which most/all do). In fact, celery juice can contain *more* nitrite than regular cured lunchmeats. So…you’re being hornswoggled.
Watch for carrageenan in aloe juice/gel….
I just ordered a bottle of Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel and it has carrageenan listed first in “Other Ingredients”,. I use it in my skin lotions as it seems to calm my hives, but this is the first time I have used this brand with this in it. Is it really dangerous as I have 32 oz of it ordered online and not easy to return.
Would sure appreciate some insight
YES. Return it and tell them why as well as, the fact that you don’t appreciate their practice of hiding toxic ingredients in what has become a trusted “health” product. Also, ask who the parent company is and how long ago they took over LOD. I’m guessing it’s Proctor Gamble, or some other huge corporation, and the very reason we can’t trust any of the products or labels in health food stores anymore. PG bought out New Chapter years ago btw, a once extraordinarily reputable company. Regardless, don’t let them off the hook.
You sent a very helpful reply and I will be returning it and letting them know it seems the bigger they get the less quality product. Will not buy any Lily of the Desert products for now.
Interesting article. I have purposely been buying flouride-free toothpaste with carrageenan for it’s touted anti-cavity properties. Back to the drawing board.
If we followed everything we heard or seen we would be on a rocks and dirt diet there seems to be information coming out about this or that not being good for you it is So ridiculous one minute something is good for us then another minute we are called to shun it. I eat a healthy diet and buy my fruits and veggies organic and avoid GMO’s cause some things are just obviously bad for you and we should do good in those areas but as far as what we eat you need to decide what makes your body feel good and what doesn’t people are different therefore react differently than others to certain things.
I fail to see your point, as I believe that knowledge is power.
However, I do seem to remember that saliva causes cancer.
But only when swallowed in small amounts over a long period of time.
My point is, this article has important information and made me aware of a potential health risk to avoid. And indeed, there are a lot of them out there. Too damned many, in my opinion.
David Darell Galbraith
Hmm… Interesting how these studies were conducted on ANIMALS. what affect animals affect us differently. For example, chocolate. Chocolate is fatal to an animal whereas in some cases, dark chocolate in small amounts is healthy for the human body.
Carrageenan contains free glutamic acid and is a derivative of MSG. https://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html It causes migraines in many people (including my son). That’s another reason to be educated about what you are consuming.
Ms. Crawford, your comments remind me of when a cigarette was not considered carcinogenic and was allowed in restaurants, businesses, hospitals, and was frequently seen being enjoyed in the hands of pregnant women. I would venture to say that people thought the cigarette made their bodies feel good. It calmed them down, kept hunger away, it gave them a certain “something” only a cigarette could give them. It would be wonderful if the mere act of enjoyment would magically keep us from the harmful effects of certain products. But, what is actually wonderful is that there was research done and information passed down to all of us as to the harmful effects of smoking. When something causes illness/cancer in the human body, it does not depend on who consumes it or how much they enjoy it. And this is where free will comes in…you may choose to ignore the information out there (continue to take a puff or consume products with carrageenan) or be appreciative that someone is making you aware. As a cancer survivor, I believe knowledge is power and I need to do everything I can to keep what even just “might” be harmful, away from me.
Besutifully, compassionately written
I wonder if they tested cigarettes back then on animals. I would imagine the little mice trying to puff a cigarette.
They did test cigarettes on Chimpanzees and found they became addicted to them as well.. They didn’t think that data was important enough to publish and made available to the public.
Look it up…
Beautifully written! I agree 100%. Glad to see you are cancer free!!
Interesting comment, considering this has been known since the 1960s to cause intestinal damage. It is also routinely used in scientific labs to artificially induce inflammation in lab animals so that anti-inflammatory drugs can be tested. So, its damaging effects have been known and documented for many decades.
Very interesting comment and I can appreciate when others do not have sensitivities so they have the luxury of blowing off these findings. To wait and find out if the bothers you is to be in my shoes,many doctors later,no answers and a whole lot of pain and sleepless nights. 48 hours after not having any carrageenan and I am free of the knife pains. No one has ever suggested or suspected this ingredient. Im sure I was on my way to crohns and feel so grateful for this information .
Thank You!
Me too… I have had extremely debilitating digestive issues for years and have wondered whether it was the almond milk… recently, an alarm bell went off in my mind and I looked further into it. I found an almond milk with no carrageenan in it and within 24 hours my symptoms cleared up.
What brand of almond milk did you find that had no caraneegan in it? Thank you!
Califia Brand has none.
I googled almond milk and bloating because of my symptoms like yours. I’ve never had such problems and look 6 months pregnant. I’m off it from today and hopefully will return to normal. Very grateful for the information and if others don’t need the information then they can choose to ignore it. Freedom of choice 🙂
Hello,
Did you find out what you were eating or drinking that had his awful substance in it? Are you still symptom free?
Thanks
That is why I’m here. Two years I struggled with stomach/ digestive problems this past 8 days has been heaven. I removed carrageenan and I’m doing much better. Take heed people. This stuff is bad news. I am still concerned about irreparable damage that had been done but glad to be moving forward with knowledge
There are all natural alternatives that can help rebuild your intestinal tract. Look into essential oils and research vegetables, spices and fruits that help rebuild tissues. I know blueberries and carrots and avocados are very good and help your system. (But as noted in a previous comment, every body is different and reacts differently-hence why some people are allergic to nuts or a certain berry and some are fine with them. So just listen to your body-and always remember that what grows from this earth naturally (non-GMO) is ALWAYS better for you than anything created in a lab.)
Wow! Sorry that you went through that and glad you discovered the culprit!! Pay no attention to those who shun information as conspiracy or that we would self-deprive to the extent of eating rocks. That’s silly talk. Our ancestors DID sleep and eat very differently than we do now. Like pretty much everything in life, sometimes you just need to go back to the basics…
Just live as wholesomely as you can and read labels on food and clothing…
Today I saw that my Costco rotisserie chicken has carrageenan in it. I just saw that they sell 157,000 of these chickens everyday. Although not Organic, I thought they were at least a higher standard, guess not. I feel duped because I thought that I could trust their due diligence to keep the food sources they sell clean. My bad for trusting.
I found this article and believe it to be true. https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/food-safety/is-carrageenan-safe/ I think it is something to keep in mind when making healthy choices.
They have known since the 60s that it causes inflammation, and it was swept under the rug, now it’s coming up again, I’m glad tho.
I was using the coconut milk and found out about the carrageenan in it .I stopped using it, and contacted the company making it. they told me they were removing it from their products. I don’t know if they did I haven’t bought anymore. Then I found it in my canned cat and dog foods. I avoid those foods with it.. the only one I know is safe is Sheba cat food. I don’t know if it is something to worry about but I am still being cautious.
Hi, I too wanted a convenient fluoride-free toothpaste, and found it at Tropical Traditions. The mint flavor is delicious and the coconut oil is good for gums. It does not contain Carrageenan. I am not affiliated with the company but when I find a great product, I like to share.
I brush my teeth with baking soda.
I have been eating what I thought was pretty healthy and keeping everything as natural as
possible and have also been dealing with constant ailments such as stomach pains, skin rashes,
acne, hair loss, itchy scalp with no signs of dandruff, sinus problems to name a few. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few months ago and asked my doctor if it could be related to the food I have been eating, I am gluten free, dairy free, nut free and I don’t eat any nightshade veggies either. He said absolutely not. WELL Thank You Katie for this article. I have been drinking coconut milk regularly for the last few years. I am praying I can heal my body from the damage this so called health food has done to me. I would have never have know of the dangers of this dangerous additive if it was not for you.
Thank you so very much.
Denise
Try coconut oil or olive oil on your skin. My sister has chrohns and psoriasis and it has helped her a lot with the psoriasis.
I have psoriasis, but since bathing and washing my hair in magnesium all symptoms have gone, good luck I hope this helps.
That’s super? Do you use magnesium oil? Do you leave it in, or rinse?
If coconut milk is harming her, I would not advise her to use another product containing it anywhere on her Body. Maybe it is Carrageenan or coconut allergy too.
Some coconut milks contain carrageenan, but I changed to one that didn’t after hearing about its effect on the body. We use Silk coconut milk that is carrageenan free.
I read the ingredients on a Silk Coconut Milk last evening at the grocery store and one of the ingredients listed was Carrageenan.
We buy unsweetened Silk Coconut Milk and it does not list carragenan as one of the ingreedients.
I’ve also seen that Silk brand almond milk has carrageenan. I shop at Fred Meyer’s and found their Simple Truth brand does not contain it. Very grateful for that. The best way is to make your own, as suggested.
Denise….please do some research on Whole30. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what eating WHOLE for 30 days will do to one’s body. There is a book called “It Starts with Food” which explains this, includes testimonials, and my family and I found it extremely interesting. We tried the whole 30 eating program and the results were astounding within 30 days….skin was better, my husband’s blood pressure came way down in the normal level (was high before), inches lost, pounds shed, his reflux issues disappeared, and we are all sleeping better and I no longer snore! I would encourage you to look at this…..crazy what eliminating ALL processed foods can do to a body. Good luck!
Lol…”you are what you eat!” I’m amazed at some of the negative comments here! Love seeing comments like yours!
Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food.” Or reverse, but it’s the same either way ?
where do I find information about this 30 day diet. I am always looking for healthier ways to eat. It seems everything out there is unhealthy for us today.
I took my jar of Radiantly You toothpaste to my 2 year olds dentist to see if she approved of me using it with her. She said she did not approve of the baking soda because it’s too rough on her young teeth. She told me to use Toms of Maine because it’s “natural”–totally placating me. I just checked the ingredients and it contains carrageenan. Any suggestions on what I can use for her teeth now?
I just did a search, and this is what they said about baking soda for toddlers:
Baking soda has been safely used as a dental care product for decades. Using baking soda on a toddler’s teeth is safe as long as a few simple considerations are followed. In addition, many dental associations have approved toothpaste and tooth-powder products that contain baking soda. For parents who wish to avoid tooth care products with fluoride, baking soda may be a good alternative if you get your dentist’s approval.
Safe Brushing
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, a toddler may use a small amount of baking soda moistened with water to gently scrub away plaque and food particles. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are more effective at reaching deposits under the gum line and reduce wear and tear on the tooth enamel. The use of baking soda on your child’s teeth is not harmful and can even be used if your child has sensitive gums or teeth, states Shwetha Dental Hospital.
So your dentist is just being a normal, traditionalist regarding consumer toothpaste and what we all want for our kids: HEALTH!
If your child doesn’t eat much in the way of sugary foods, simply brushing them with a wet toothbrush should be sufficient. Or use coconut oil mixed with a few drops of essential oils to help the taste if you really don’t want to use baking soda…..
happy brushing!
Mix baking soda with coconut oil and food grade peppermint, spearmint or cinnamon to give it a better flavor. Also, they’re all antibacterial, so that’s a good thing for our mouths 😀
This is what I have evolved to, Coconut Oil with a little baking soda, few drops of peppermint EO, and a little grape seed oil to keep it slightly liquid in Indiana in the winter where the thermostat says 68 degrees and my Coconut Oil is a solid 🙂 Also use a soft toothbrush as described above that I think I found through WellnessMama affiliate OraWellness
Try Lush’s toothy tabs! they’re solid toothpaste, so there’s no waste, no fluoride and there’s definitely no carrageenan. Only a bit of baking soda, but mostly essential oils – and there’s different flavors 🙂
um…don’t swallow the toothpaste?
You can’t absorb macro-molecules through your gums.
Carrageenan is only harmful if ingested. So unless you regularly eat your toothpaste, it is safe to use toothpaste that contains it.
No sane person would brush their teeth daily with turpentine, gasoline, or liquid poison because most people understand that mucus membranes absorb things even more readily than skin. What we rub on our skin goes into our bodies – what we put in our mouths, even rinsed out, does the same. The only difference is, it is accumulative over a period of time. In addition to absorption through the mouth membranes, a small bit is ingested from time to time. It’s unavoidable. I recently discovered that my natural, healthy toothpaste contains carrageenan. This was after experiencing chronic morning hives. When I stopped using the toothpaste, the hives went away. When I tried it again, the hives were back. Also, the hives began after I started the second tube of toothpaste, so it proved to me that the buildup of carrageenan was gradual, but certain. Thank you.
Just wanted to add to my comment above: I later discovered that my hives were primarily caused by a homemade soap that was a gift. After throwing away the soap, my hives almost completely stopped. I started using the natural toothpaste again and found that, when used sparingly, it does not cause hives. I wanted to clear that up. Thank you.
You should look into comfrey root powder for cavity reducing.
Please be careful and read what is in not only your toothpaste but your body/face lotions, food, cosmetics, etc. We are now the generation of label reading as more and more I am finding that our government/FDA are allowing more and more “fillers” to be put in to so many things which we digest. Aluminum is another “filler” in which you have to look out for. There are many links you can find information about aluminum. I just had to change my deodorant and toothpaste because they contain Aluminum. I sat down one day and looked up all of the ingredients in a box of Pumpkin Corn Bread mix from Trader Joe’s and besides it containing soy and corn, both GMO, the fillers which it contains made me feel ill and like I had to go to the emergency room right then, lol! It’s not funny as to what is going into our food source. There is so much more which we do not pay attention to because maybe like me, you trust our government to only do what is right to our food source. We must be our own advocate when it comes to reading labels and finding out what all of those words, which we can not pronounce, really are as not only are we consuming them, we are feeding them to our children without knowing what they are. If you are concerned about carrageenan then I am sure you most likely be concerned about the other items I mentioned above. Good luck and read labels!!!
It sounds like eating food with carrageenan often maybe be bad for you but the levels of it that you’d ingest while brushing your teeth probably are not enough to harm you unless you are eating your toothpaste instead of spitting. I know some people are extra cautious but personally I’m going to still use carrageenan toothpastes but I’m going to avoid foods containing it. Also I wish they weren’t putting fluoride in our water. Fluoride strengthens teeth when applied to the teeth but ingesting it all the time seems unnecessary and potentially dangerous to our bone health and may be contributing to increased osteoporosis.
Watch for carrageenan in Muscle Milk Organic (Vanilla with other natural flavors) and it is organic protein shake on USDA Organic. I bought it at Costco and I personally didn’t know carrageenan was really bad. That really sucks when I trusted the government that put safety health in our food source. What kind of world it is that we’re living in?
Did you actually READ the article?
In other words, food-grade carrageenan has not been shown to cause cancer in animal models. That doesn’t necessarily mean carrageenan is in the clear when it comes to cancer, but contrary to popular belief, it is not a known carcinogen.
Remember, these studies are looking at carrageenan as a percentage of the entire diet, not just less than 1% of a small portion of the total diet, as is the case when using milk replacement products.
Unfortunately, it’s unclear whether they used food-grade carrageenan rather than poligeenan in this experiment.
As with magnesium stearate and soy lecithin, carrageenan has been frequently portrayed as significantly more harmful than is supported by available evidence. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a known carcinogen, and although some studies implicate carrageenan in ulceration and inflammation, some show no adverse effects.
The Irish have been using it for CENTURIES as remedies. A wholesome or healthy diet is best, but an alarming article shows poor judgement and irresponsibility.
This post confuses more than it helps, I actually went on and did some more research, and as far as stabilizers go, carrageenan is so much better than anything else out there, such as gelatin from animals, starches and other synthetic products. It seems that to go on a crusade against one of the most innocuous stabilizers while there are so many things out there that are truly harmful seems a little extreme
Food grade carrageenan is used in many products as stabilizer, name it, you have it, with very FEW exceptions. Even the capsules and gels for medicines and food supplements are made from it. Poligeenan is used in electronics, plastic ware and other industry applications. I think the demand for it in all applications has been considered well. If indeed it is harmful, especially for use with food, i wonder what stabilizer one can use. Many food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and related industries face a huge problem. Just sayin…
Well, at least with the toothpaste, you’re not swallowing it (are you?)
You’re not ingesting the toothpaste though…
Try Dr. Bronner’s toothpaste.
I too just discovered my toorhpaste had carrageenan. Darn!
Check out ugly by nature brand toothpastes 😉
Free of fluoride and carrageenan!
I was right there with you. That carrageenan stuff is everywhere (including my favorite pre-roasted rotisserie chicken from the store.)! I currently use tooth cleaner from Tropical Traditions. I’m always on the lookout for a product I can settle on.
Walmart is injecting that carrageenan stuff in chicken breasts along with some kind of 15 percent broth, selling it to consumers proudly.
Try Earthpaste. Lemon is my favorite.
Try xylitol. I have used it for 6 yrs now and no cavities and halted gum disease. Readily available in health food stores.make your own mouth wash,1/2cup in14of.
Revitin is the only toothpaste that is made to be beneficial for the oral microbiome. It is also safe enough that it could be eaten. Most people like the taste, but some don’t. It’s a bit pricey, but most people that try it get hooked on how good it really is. I paid more than I expected, but I can’t find anything that comes anywhere even close to their quality. Try it at your own risk.