What are the categories of carrageenan?

Carrageenan can be divided into λ, κ, ι, ε, μ And other types, but the commercial carrageenan is still mainly used ι, λ,  These three categories:

Carrageenan classification

4、 Is carrageenan a food safety problem?

Carrageenan is a safe food additive confirmed by long-term strict scientific research.

Carrageenan has passed the certification of food regulatory agencies including China, the United States, Europe, Japan and Brazil. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the World Health Organization all believe that carrageenan is safe.

Of course, there are still some studies that question the safety of carrageenan, mainly focusing on whether excessive consumption will affect intestinal health, but these views are currently controversial.

According to GB 2760-2014 National Food Safety Standard for Food Additions and Use issued by the Health and Family Planning Commission, carrageenan is only required to be used in light of production needs in thin cream, butter and concentrated butter, wet flour products, spices, fruit and vegetable juice; However, in the raw and dry flour products, other sugars and syrup, and infant formula foods, the maximum dosage was 8.0g/kg, 5.0g/kg, 0.3g/L, respectively.

This means that carrageenan has no "excessive addition" in most food categories, which also proves from the side that there is no evidence to prove that the amount of carrageenan added has food safety risks.

national standard

In food production, few manufacturers will add carrageenan in large quantities. The thickening effect of carrageenan can only reach the best within a certain range, and too much or too little can not be added.

Scientific researchers William R. Blakemore and Alan R. Harpell believed that carrageenan had the best effect when used between 0.015% and 0.025% in ice cream;

Huxiao's "Ice cream will not melt at high temperature. Carrageenan is the key. What is carrageenan? Is it safe?" It is mentioned that the upper limit can reach 0.04%. Back to Zhong Xuegao, a 78g Zhong Xuegao only added 0.032g carrageenan, which is about 0.04%.

In a word, no research can shake the conclusion that carrageenan is safe and reliable. In fact, carrageenan is a kind of soluble dietary fiber, which can completely pass through the human digestive system, that is, in theory, carrageenan will not be absorbed by the human body.

5、 What food fields is carrageenan used in?

Carrageenan is widely used in food, daily chemical, pet food and other industrial fields because of its natural harmlessness, excellent functionality, reliability and applicability.

Carrageenan is more powerful in the research and development of plant meat - in most cases, carrageenan can replace animal gelatin made from animal bones and fur. There is no thickener for making vegetable meat. How can we make a compact "meat" from processed vegetable protein? The vegetable colloid represented by carrageenan can not only realize the function of gelatin, but also ensure that the product is completely free of animal ingredients, which makes the research and development of plant based products possible.

New meat substitutes

In fact, ingredient manufacturers are also taking carrageenan as the foundation to constantly introduce new plant based ingredient schemes.

On July 4, Azores launched a series of plant based ingredients, including the mixture of carrageenan and methyl cellulose GENU ® Texturizer MA-1 to help plant based food achieve a meat like eating experience.

In the food industry, carrageenan plays an outstanding role in the following areas:

6、 Which food brands are using carrageenan?

In addition to Zhong Xuegao, you can also see carrageenan in the products of Yili, Guangming, Xicha, Ramen Shuo, Kiss, Shuanghui, Wangzai and many other brands. It can be said that carrageenan is very common in daily food.

7、 What are the suppliers of carrageenan?

Carrageenan has the fourth largest market share in the global food gum market, second only to starch, gelatin and pectin.

Carrageenan is also very important in China. China is the world's major carrageenan consumer market and major export place, with a large number of carrageenan manufacturers. The following shows some major suppliers.

Facing the future, carrageenan still has many possibilities.

As a natural food additive that can reduce the addition of food salt and fat, improve the shelf life of food, and is environmentally friendly, carrageenan still has great potential in the future research and development of healthy food.

It can be said that carrageenan is "good without harm". Do we really want to refuse to use it?

Tyson Bio is a sodium alginate manufacturer, which produces sodium alginate, potassium alginate and carrageenan in Shandong Province. Welcome new and old customers to call us for consultation.