THE CONTROVERSY OVER CARRAGEEAN
I have been butting heads with a customer about this issue for at least a year. She even warns my own customers to avoid any can foods that have carrageenan in them. Yet when I called one company, because I value their product, they assured me that carrageenan is a natural ingredient that is derived from red seaweed which is also called Irish moss and has been used for hundreds of years. I relayed this information to Georgette. She was still unconvinced. And then another customer (friend) George, informed me that he was doing some research and found that Blue Buffalo, (which we got rid of when the company was bought out and we had to question where they would be sourcing their ingredients, especially with their mega advertising costs) is using carrageenan. I hit the computer to conquer these nay-sayers. What I found was quite interesting.
The use of carrageenan in both animal and human products is quite prolific. And there has been controversy about it since the 1960’s, not quite proving but inferring that the use of carrageenan is linked to inflammation, gastrointestinal ulceration, and that it damages the digestive system. Concerned consumers have been petitioning that companies include warnings or eliminate the use of carrageenan altogether. Other accusations include, irritable bowel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon cancer, and food allergies. Since carrageenan is used as an additive to thicken, emulsify (to make two or more ingredients blend), and preserve certain liquids and meat products. I was shocked to read that it is used in chocolate milk, cottage cheese, cream, ice cream, almond and coconut milks, vegan cheeses and non-dairy deserts, and creamers, soy milk and yogurt, readymade meals, and deli meats. Since I am very lactose intolerant, I daily consume many of the aforementioned products. And I suffer from IBS, and reflux disease! Hmm. I also learned that continued use of carrageenan in these foods can lead to other diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis (me), tendonitis (me), and chronic cholecystitis, or gall bladder inflammation.
“One review also suggests that there may be no substantial difference between ‘food -grade’ (undegraded) and degraded carrageenan. Degraded carrageenan is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) version that isn’t approved. It’s even used to induce inflammation in animal studies.” Carrageenan is used in pet food almost strictly in wet foods like pates and “loaf” cans. As a gelling agent they give the food a firmer texture. Even though some companies use more agreeable sources, like agar-agar, konjac, or aiginate, carrageenan remains the preferred agent.
“For every study suggesting carrageenan could be problematic, there is another indicating that it is perfectly safe.” But many of these are funded by producers of carrageenan! A study conducted in 2018 by the European Food Safety Authority found “no adverse effects from carrageenan in rats” with dosages WAY above what is normally found in pet foods. Also, companies that outsource their products may not even know if carrageenan has been used. And many companies are not forthcoming with the truth. And sometimes it is listed using a different name. If your cat or dog is suffering from digestive issues check the ingredients, call the company to see if you can get a straight answer, and/or, since it is used in such small amounts, just vary what company’s wet foods you are using, or vary your pet’s diet with different producers of canned foods. Also add prebiotics and probiotics to their food.
