What is carrageenan?
What is carrageenan? This question has become increasingly common in recent years in a number of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Carrageenan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide derived from red algae (especially seaweed) and is widely used for its excellent colloidal properties. In this article, we will provide you with an in-depth analysis of the specific properties and effects of carrageenan in terms of its sources, types, applications and health effects.
Sources and Extraction of Carrageenan
Carrageenan is mainly derived from red algae, especially the marine species Eucheuma cottonii and Kappaphycus alvarezii. By drying, rinsing and alkali treatment of these seaweeds, water-soluble polysaccharides known as carrageenan are extracted. The extraction process is natural, environmentally friendly and does not involve chemical solvents, making it a biodegradable and sustainable resource.
Types of carrageenan
Carrageenan is usually classified into three main types based on different molecular structures and gel properties: κ (kappa) type, ι (eta) type and λ (lambda) type.

κ-type carrageenan: has a high gel strength and is capable of forming hard gels in the presence of potassium ions. Mainly used in meat and dairy products.
Type ι carrageenan: soft and elastic, often used to increase the consistency and stability of products, commonly found in desserts and dairy products.
λ Carrageenan: unable to form gels, mainly used as a thickener, suitable for liquid products such as beverages and sauces.

Different types of carrageenan have their own unique application scenarios, thus it is crucial to choose the right type according to specific needs.
Wide range of carrageenan applications
What is carrageenan and why is it so widely used? Carrageenan’s core strengths lie in its functional properties of thickening, gelling, stabilising and emulsifying. Here are a few of the main application areas:

Food industry: Carrageenan is a common food additive widely used in dairy products (e.g. ice cream, yoghurt, chocolate milk), meat products (e.g. sausage, ham) and baked goods. It not only thickens and stabilises food, but also improves taste and extends shelf life.
Pharmaceutical industry: Carrageenan’s biocompatibility makes it ideal for use as a capsule coating and tablet binder in pharmaceutical preparations.
Cosmetics and personal care: Carrageenan’s moisturising and stabilising properties make it a common ingredient in cosmetics such as lotions, shampoos and creams.

Health effects of carrageenan
The safety of carrageenan has raised some concerns in recent years. Questions have been raised about the digestion of carrageenan and whether it can have adverse effects on the intestinal tract. However, it has been proven in several studies that food-grade carrageenan is safe in normal usage levels and does not pose significant health risks. It is important that consumers ensure that they are choosing high-quality food-grade carrageenan rather than untreated or low-quality ingredients.
Summarising
What is carrageenan? It is a naturally occurring polysaccharide derived from seaweed that has a variety of properties including thickening, gelling and stabilising. Widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, carrageenan plays an important role in modern industry. Although there is some controversy about its safety, a large body of scientific evidence suggests that the rational use of carrageenan poses no significant risk to human health. Therefore, carrageenan will continue to play its irreplaceable role in all major fields in the future.
Through the detailed analysis of this article, you should have a clearer understanding of “what is carrageenan” this issue. Carrageenan is not only an environmentally friendly and sustainable resource, its diverse applications make it an important raw material in modern industry.