Carrageenan - Health Concerns

Health Concerns

The Joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives states that, "based on the information available, it is inadvisable to use carrageenan or processed eucheuma seaweed in infant formulas". There is evidence from studies performed on rats, guinea pigs, and monkeys that indicates that degraded carrageenan (poligeenan) may cause ulcerations in the gastro-intestinal tract and gastro-intestinal cancer. In the 21st century similar experiments have been performed using human tissue showing similar results, but none have been definitive. Poligeenan is produced from carrageenan when subjected to high temperatures and acidity. The average carrageenan molecule weighs more than 100,000 Da, while poligeenans have a molecular weight of less than 50,000 Da. A scientific committee working on behalf of the European Commission has recommended that the amount of degraded carrageenan be limited to a maximum of 5% (which is the limit of detection) of total carrageenan mass. Upon testing samples of foods containing high molecular weight carrageens, researchers found no poligeenan. Based on research showing that it leads to colon cancer in laboratory animals, the International Agency for Research on Cancer recognizes degraded carrageenan as a "possible human carcinogen" and organizations such as the Cornucopia Institute are calling for it to be withdrawn from inclusion among acceptable ingredients in organic foods by the USDA.

A study published in 2006 indicates that carrageenan induces inflammation in human intestinal epithelial cells in tissue culture through a BCL10-mediated pathway that leads to activation of NFkappaB and IL-8. Carrageenan may be immunogenic due to its unusual alpha-1,3-galactosidic link, which is part of its disaccharide unit structure. Consumption of carrageenan may have a role in intestinal inflammation and possibly, inflammatory bowel disease, since BCL10 resembles NOD2, mutations of which are associated with genetic proclivity to Crohn's Disease.

Carrageenan is reported to interfere with macrophage activity.

The health concerns for Carrageenan have led to a worldwide increase in prices because of the greater regulation surrounding its use as a food additive. Unfortunately, this has also led to large price increase for non-food uses, especially as an artistic material. One artificial alternative in many applications is methyl cellulose, which is also regulated as a food additive, but has greater market availability in America in both FDA and non-FDA approved forms.