Explore the Magic of Carrageenan

What Is Carrageenan e407?

Carrageenan e407 may sound unfamiliar, but it is present in all parts of our lives. It is ubiquitous in everything from dairy products to baby formulas and toothpaste. The food additive Carrageenan is derived from a variety of red seaweeds and processed by mixing it with an alkaline substance. In chemical terms, Carrageenan is a polysaccharide extracted from a number of red seaweeds and has a complex and diverse range of characteristics, but its basic function is thickening and stabilizing. From the food industry's point of view, Carrageenan e407 is a common food additive, which is classified as an emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer. For many years, seaweed containing Carrageenan has been used in the food industry due to its unique gelling properties. Numerous manufacturers regularly use it as a thickener in nut milk, meat products, and yogurt. Carrageenan food additive is also often found in vegan and vegetarian products as an alternative to gelatin.

Types of Carrageenan e407

There are several different types of Carrageenan with varying chemical properties, but the most important difference is between degraded and undegraded Carrageenan. Undegraded Carrageenan is approved for use in food, while degraded Carrageenan is not.

Depending on the sulfate content and its solubility in potassium chloride, Carrageenan e407 can be divided into iota, kappa, lambda, epsilon, and mu. Because of their different chemical structures and properties, they are used for different purposes. However, the three main types of Carrageenan used in modern commerce are iota, kappa, and lambda. All three types contain about 20-40% sulfate, which determines the degree of gelation. As the amount of sulfate increases, the intensity of the gel decreases. The uses of the three types of Carrageenan food additive are associated with their ability to form gels. Firstly, iota forms an elastic gel with calcium salts, which is a transparent gel with freeze-thaw stability. Next, kappa forms a strong gel with potassium salts, which is opaque and transparent when sugar is added. At last, lambda does not form a gel but a high-viscosity solution.

Applications of Carrageenan e407

Food Industry

Carrageenan e407 is an additive used for thickening, emulsifying, and preserving food and beverages for a variety of usages. It is a highly effective thickener and stabilizer mainly used in the food industry. A number of manufacturers use Carrageenan as a stabilizer added to products such as chocolate milk and almond milk to prevent separation of the chocolate from the milk. Carrageenan food additive can also be used as a substitute for fat in low-fat foods as well as for replacing fat in dairy products for the vegan market. There are also some producers who use Carrageenan e407 in jellied products to give a smooth texture to jellies including vegan jellied desserts.

Pet Food

Carrageenan e407 is also greatly consumed in pet food. The meat used in canned pet food is usually slaughterhouse waste. It is cut into large or small pieces, mixed with water, spices, kappa carrageenan, and acacia bean gum, cooked and canned. As a binder, Carrageenan food additive used in canned pet food will assist in holding the meat together, bestowing the chunks with a thick gravy and giving the cans an attractive appearance.

Toothpaste

Carrageenan food additive is a commonly used toothpaste thickener. It is a colloidal substance that can form a stable suspension colloidal mixture so as to give the toothpaste a proper viscosity and thickness with good flow properties. In the meantime, Carrageenan e407 can make the toothpaste have a skeleton, and the extruded toothpaste can stay on the toothbrush without collapsing. The usage of Carrageenan red algae in toothpaste can significantly improve the appearance of toothpaste, making the paste delicate, smooth, and bright.

Is It Safe to Have Carrageenan e407 In My Food?

Carrageenan is safe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of the additive but intake of Carrageenan food additive needs to be controlled. As a matter of fact, decades of scientific research have confirmed the safety of Carrageenan in food. Carrageenane407 is permitted in infant formulas, so there is no danger in using it.

Summary

Carrageenan is an additive with multiple uses. Henan Chemsino Industry Co.,ltd (Chemsino) can supply top-quality food additives at affordable prices. If you are looking for such thickeners and any other type of food ingredients and want to know about Carrageenan price, please feel free to contact us.