Introduction
Carrageenan is a kind of Nature Polysaccharides hydrocolloid which is present in the structures of certain varieties of red seaweed. These Carbohydrates have the ability to form, at very low concentrations, thick solutions, or gels in aqueous media.
Carrageenan is extensively applied in food, medicine, chemically industry, for daily supplies, biological chemistry, building paints, textile printing, and agriculture.
Carrageenan shows off-white to snowy or tan to yellowish, it is a free-flowing powder, free of odor or taste. The gel is heat-reversible, it can dissolve after heat up and the solution can gel while colling. Its steady-going, even if it may not reduce gel strength and viscosity for long-term placement. After combining with Konjac, Locust Bean Gum and Xanthan gum. It is able to increase the gel potential with much better elastic.
Opal Biotech. supply refined and semi-refined kappa carrageenan and refined and semi-refined Iota carrageenan.
Carrageenan is extracted from red algae, including a red algae called ‘Irish moss’. It is a carbohydrate used as a stabiliser, thickener and gelling agent. Carrageenan does not contain fat, cholesterol, sodium or calories. In products with cocoa, it prevents the cocoa particles from clumping together. It has E-number 407.
Criticism: Since the late 1960s, there have been controversies regarding the health effects of carrageenan. Some animal studies and in vitro studies have suggested that carrageenan can trigger inflammation, stomach ulcers, and that it damages the digestive system.
This research can be traced back to a single researcher. It is believed that this researcher used a number of scientifically dubious methods to achieve predetermined results. It is believed, among other things, that the researcher has confused carrageenan with polygenean.
Other, unbiased researchers have not been able to replicate the findings of this critical researcher under controlled conditions. Instead, ongoing research has repeatedly shown that carrageenan is safe for use as an ingredient in foods. As a result, respected toxicology experts openly denied the researcher’s anti-carrageenan claims, and regulators around the world confirm the safety of carrageenan and continue to approve its use in food.
Applications
- Pet Food
- Ice Cream
- Processed Cheese
- Beverage stabilizer
- Beer Fining
- Yogurt
- Meat product Thickener
- Jelly Thickener
- Soft candy
Carrageenan also has below function
- Air freshener application
- Capsule application
- Toothpaste application
- Facial mask application
The general features of common carrageenan
Good acid resistance, maintain steady performance when PH is between 3.5-4.0.
Good solubility at low temperatures can be dissolved by stirring at 30°C for 5 min.
