Tag: Carrageenan side effects

According to a 2017 review, research dating back to the 1960s has suggested that carrageenan may pose health risks, particularly related to the digestive system. This raises the critical question: why is carrageenan unhealthy? The controversy largely stems from potential links to inflammation, intestinal damage, and concerns that food-grade carrageenan could degrade into a more dangerous substance in the body.

While the FDA considers food-grade carrageenan “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), there is significant controversy regarding what are the potential side effects of carrageenan. Some research, particularly in animal and cell studies, suggests links to inflammation, digestive distress, and intestinal damage. Consumers have reported improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms after removing this additive from their diets.

According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), food-grade carrageenan has an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of “not specified,” one of the most favorable safety categories. However, this determination comes with qualifications and does not apply to degraded carrageenan, leading to persistent questions about what is the safe limit for carrageenan for general consumption.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many common food additives, including stabilizers like guar gum and xanthan gum, are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for consumption within specified limits. This means that for the vast majority of consumers, eating stabilizer as part of processed foods is not a health risk when used appropriately.

Despite being a common food additive extracted from red seaweed, carrageenan faces significant controversy regarding its safety, with some researchers linking it to a range of inflammatory and digestive issues. While regulatory bodies like the FDA classify food-grade carrageenan as 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS), its potential health risks are still a subject of debate.

According to a 2017 review by the European Food Safety Authority, common gums like guar gum are generally safe for the public at refined exposure levels. However, concerns remain for certain individuals regarding additives used in ice cream, raising the question: are the gums in ice cream bad for you?.

Subway's ingredient lists have shown that their turkey breast, at least in some markets and past formulations, has contained carrageenan, a food additive derived from red seaweed. This inclusion has sparked questions among health-conscious consumers wondering, **does Subway turkey have carrageenan?** and what it means for their diet.

According to a 2017 study, carrageenan intake contributed to earlier disease relapse in 50% of individuals with ulcerative colitis who were in remission. This controversial seaweed-derived food additive, used widely for its thickening and stabilizing properties, has several potential downsides that concern consumers and researchers alike.

According to research published in the journal *Environmental Health Perspectives*, degraded carrageenan has been linked to intestinal inflammation and lesions in animal studies. The question of whether this translates to negative effects from the food-grade carrageenan found in protein shakes remains a subject of considerable debate.

According to a 2024 review, carrageenan intake in a typical Western diet can be as high as 2–4 grams per day for some individuals, far exceeding prior estimates. If you eat too much carrageenan, some research suggests it may lead to digestive problems and inflammatory responses in sensitive individuals.