Do you drink coconut or almond milk? Most health conscious consumers have found these products to be significantly healthier than traditional milk and pasteurized dairy products. Unfortunately, there may be a cancer-causing ingredient lurking in these popular nut milks.
There are so many food products that market themselves as “healthy alternatives.” Many shoppers just buy the claim and don’t investigate the actual ingredients. Some of these products are great, but others contain questionable additives. If you search your refrigerator and cupboards you may be astonished at how many food sources contain the additive carrageenan.
Carrageenan, surprisingly, is found in many organic products that most believe to be very healthy and are often touted by health professionals. Should you be concerned about carrageenan in your food?
Foods Containing Carrageenan
Carrageenan is used as a food additive thickening emulsifier to improve the texture and consistency of foods. It does not add flavor or increase shelf life.1 It is most commonly found in boxed milks, yogurts, and ice creams.
Which foods in your kitchen contain this additive? The following is a list of food sources that commonly contain carrageenan:1,2,3,4
- Milk products including almond, rice, soy, and even coconut milk
- Cottage cheese
- Ice cream (including coconut milk and almond milk ice cream)
- Yogurt (including coconut milk yogurt)
- Frozen dinners
- Organic Juice
- Frozen pizza
- Deli meats such as sliced turkey
- Canned soups
- Sour cream
- Processed sauces and dip mixes
- Infant formula
- Nutritional shakes
There are many healthy foods in these categories that do not contain carrageenan or any other major additives. Read your labels and be sure to look for these!
What Is Carrageenan?
Carrageenan is a glucose related sugar called a sulfate polygalactan from red seaweed and algae. Its name is derived from an Irish coastal region named “Carragheen,” where the original harvesting of the seaweed began.
Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed and processed with chemicals (potassium hydroxide) to remove the cellulose and neutralize its acidity. Despite the chemical processing it is considered a natural food additive.1 Carrageenan was first introduced to the food industry in the 1930s and works so well at thickening and improving the texture and solubility of products that it has drawn widespread appeal.4,5
Carrageenan in the degraded form exposes an unstable sulfur compound that is known to cause inflammation in animals and humans. Degraded carrageenan is commonly used in the scientific world in order to induce inflammation in lab animals.
This degraded form is called poligeenan and is not used in the food industry. However, it is known that when stable carrageenan is exposed to strong acids (such as stomach acid) the sulfur component becomes unstable and reactive.5
Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not done its due diligence in testing the reactivity of carrageenan. They have listed the substance as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) since 1973 with very little safety testing.6
Why Heating Almond Milk (& Other Products With Carrageenan) Is a Bad Idea
Once we drink our favorite nut milk beverage with carrageenan, the thickening agent gets degraded by the stomach acid and bacterial fermentation in the gut which alters the structure of the compound.7 Heating the coconut or almond milk would also degrade the compound and make it potentially toxic.
Let’s say you get an organic pizza with this ingredient in the sauce portion. You heat the pizza up and it begins to break down the carrageenan particle. Then you begin to digest the pizza and the chewing process provides mechanical insult to the agent that further degrades it. The additive is then exposed to harsh stomach acid as the body is working to metabolize and absorb the nutrients within the pizza. This same process occurs with your nut milk.
Finally, the pizza or nut milk gets into your small and large intestine where it is exposed to bacteria that further metabolize it, releasing the carrageenan in its most degraded form into the blood stream. By this time, we must expect the carrageenan to represent a similar degraded form that scientists use in order to create inflammation in lab animals.1,2
Carrageenan Consumption and Chronic Disease
Dr. Joanne Tobacman, MD, is a physician-scientist who has studied the carcinogenic effects of carrageenan for over 2o years. She found that the carrageenan was stable and safe while in the food product itself, but would too easily break down in the digestive process and cause health problems. Her research linked carrageenan consumption to the development of diabetes and digestive problems.4
Dr. Tobacman also found that carrageenan could contribute to the development of ulcers and cancerous tissue growth. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reported in 1982 that there was enough evidence to claim that carrageenan is a likely carcinogen in humans.5
A study dated back to 1981 cautioned researchers to investigate carrageenan consumption in humans before widespread usage. This study used strong language and cited multiple sources showing that carrageenan has carcinogenic effects when added to food or drinking water of several animal species.8
Carrageenan and Your Intestinal Microflora
A 2012 study discussed how gut microflora metabolizes red seaweed and carrageenan and how this influences the balance of microbial species.3 Many experts believe that carrageenan promotes gut inflammation by altering the balance of microflora.
Some of the symptoms associated with altered gut microflora are similar to those found in studies associated with the use of carrageenan. This includes irritable bowel syndrome, colon polyps, ulcers, and abnormal tissue growths. Studies even propose that the body exhibits the same response to carrageenan as it does to a bacterial infection from Salmonella and its development of disease.1
The Bottom Line on Carrageenan in Food Products
If you are looking to stay as healthy as possible and cancer-free, it is best to avoid food products containing carrageenan. Be sure to read labels and if your favorite foods contain carrageenan, look for the best alternative.
There are many brands that are working to remove this ingredient due to consumer demand. If your favorite foods have carrageenan then write the manufacturer and/or call their customer service number and ask them to remove it as soon as possible.
Lastly, nut milks can easily be made at home by high speed blending your favorite raw nut in a one to three ratio with clean water (eg. using three cups water and one cup of nuts), and then straining the liquid with either a cheesecloth or strainer. You can add vanilla, cinnamon, a little raw honey or stevia to give it flavor, and then store in your refrigerator in a glass jar for a few days. You can also find step-by-step directions for making almond milk here.
Editor’s Note: This article originally published August 2015 and was updated and republished August 2017
Please help bring more awareness about the dangers of carrageenan in almond and other nut milks as well as other foods by sharing this article with your friends and family below.
Article Summary
Many health food products, including some brands of almond milk, contain a potentially cancer-causing ingredient: carrageenan.
Carrageenan is used as a food additive thickening emulsifier to improve the texture and consistency of foods. It does not add flavor or increase shelf life.
Carrageenan is most commonly found in boxed milks, yogurts, and ice creams. It’s also found in a number of other processed foods including infant formula.
Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed and processed with potassium hydroxide to remove the cellulose and neutralize its acidity.
A degraded form of carrageenan called poligeenan is known to cause inflammation in animals and humans.
While poligeenan is not used in the food industry, carrageenan can break down during the digestive process and when foods are heated and become harmful.
Be sure to read labels and if your favorite foods contain carrageenan, look for the best alternative.
Carrageenan can be disguised as E407. I checked my box of soy milk and there was no mention of carrageenan by name. However the ingredients list includes “vegetable gums (407, 460)”
Dr. Jockers, Dc, MS, CSCS…. You have incorrectly spelled “its” in the title of your article. What you have written is “It is Unlikely Cancer Causing Ingredient”. The correct spelling of this in the context you mean, is without the apostrophe…..”Its Unlikely Cancer Causing Ingredient”….
Thank you for pointing that out! It’s been fixed. 🙂
Dr. Jockers, is Carrageenan in tooth paste has the same affect as in food? As our mouth have sensitive links to organs, I just wonder if it will affect the same ?
Great question. No, carrageenan in toothpaste is not bad like it is in food as long as you don’t swallow it. As the article explains, the stomach acid and bacterial fermentation in the gut alter the compound into a more dangerous metabolite.
What about homemade almond milk?
That would be great and would not contain carrageenan!
I wish it were that simple to make your own almond milk, but it is difficult to find organic farm sources for almonds. Unless you’re buying them directly from the farmer at a local farmer’s market or farm stand, California law requires that all almonds sold commercially must be pasteurized. (And California grows 82% of the world’s almond crop, so you’re probably buying them from California.) If the almonds are sold as “raw,” then they have been steam pasteurized which destroys healthy enzymes. If they are not raw, but just “whole natural” almonds, then they have been chemically treated to prevent sprouting and kill pathgens. This treatment (called “fumigation”) uses the chemical propylene oxide, aka PPO, which is considered a possible carcinogen. I used to love to buy whole, natural almonds in bulk from Costco or even local farm stands until I learned about this.
patricia great question… pasteur would be sad to see the amount of pasteurized everything paranoia we have today… sue this sue that sue god sue nature… i 50ish and me and all kids in the family had hundreds of UNPASTEURIZED real raw everything, milk grom our own cow and we drank milk from other families cows too, unpasteurized cheese from local producers (guess only the milk was boiled), our apples had no wax around them, our limes, lemons and grapes had seeds, actually ALL FRUITS HAD SEEDS, and they were probably 90% with less agrotoxics sprayed on them, and yes we had lot of times that we spent in the throne due that. we are still alive and well… perhaps instead of burning the healthy enzimes of the almond and many other healthy food with Mr. Pasteur technique they should farmers and big agri invest in more Organic Made by Nature great healthy food NOT genetic modified food and agrotoxics in our food. I heard RAW almonds have a super powerful enzyme that plays a great deal of dealing with weak/damaged cells……. strange.
I noticed its in my very expensive probiotics. Safe level?? Or should I throw them out. Thank you
What about supplements that have it in the soft gel capsules?
What about Kappa Carrageenan. That I use to make my own vegan cheese.
What are we supposed to eat or drink? A lot of us can’t afford all this stuff!! What are my kids supposed to drink? Please give ideas!!!!
I just rather heard , what we should eat ,
Bananas
Triple filtered water
Avocado
Sock EYE salmon wild
What else ?
Just when you thought you’re doing something good with healthy organic foods. It’s like one step forward, two steps back!
This just makes me sick as I have had 3 cancers and have changed my eating habits and what I put on my body. It put the organic almond dairy beverage in my smoothies everyday. What can I substitute for this in my smoothie.
Make your own nut milks!
It’s in many canned pets foods, and should be avoided for our furry friends to!
Why is carrageenan in organic foods? I’ve read it on the label of organic products.
are you still drinking soy products, re think that one.
We don’t stand a chance unless Authorities, like the FDA start listening. The average person hasn’t got a clue what the additives mean, especially if they are just numbers. If the comments about almonds is true, then by the sounds of it, it’s best to give almonds or anything that contain almonds, so presumably, the same process is done to all nuts?
Hi, I take Red Mineral Algae calcium supplement as my post menopausal level of calcium absorption is not sufficient to maintain bone health. It is harvested off the coast of Ireland and Iceland. I’m taking 1000 mg per day of these and have been taking them for a couple of years now. Your article above has really scared me. I’m a vegan, and this was the only calcium supplement I could find that did not contain animal products, was the kind of calcium that a body can absorb, and it did not make me feel sick.
PLEASE HELP
What about ‘sucrose ester of fatty acids’?
As the author of this article, the BIG TAKEAWAY is that you read the ingredients of your foods and look out for carrageenan in ANYTHING!! It could be in your almond or coconut milk…but there are brands that do not have it. Just be a food detective. Hope that helps with all of these questions!
What brands do not have it?
My local grocery store recently started carrying Califia Farms almond milk, which says it’s carrageenan free right on the front of the bottle. Carrageenan is the reason I stopped using Silk brand soy creamer.
Hy Vee grocery store brand does not list carrageenan as an ingredient in their almond milk.
Look at the article called, Almonds, the worst & best. It lists the healthier options to buy. In Australia, the best brand appears to be Pureharvest. Watch out for the the inclusion of Sunflower oil in these alternative milk products, as Sunflower may not be organic. The reduced fat content brands do not contain oil.
Correction to my email above, meant to say, Look at the article called, Almond Milk, the worst & best.
What about silk cashew milk is this also bad??? Thank yoi
So if this degraded version of carrageenan is a no-no, then what CAN be used to thicken a nut milk? (or anything else) Is there a natural/organic version of carrageenan that can be used (as I’ve seen carrageenan for sale on ebay) or would something like arrowroot or agar agar?
The Hy Vee brand of almond milk does not contain carrageenan.
As far as I understand that this ingredient is only added in US products …. as I just checked UK products of what i got at home like 2 cottage cheeses of which one of them is organic called ” holy cow ” & other fat free waitrose also ALPRO hazelnut milk , or i also got The Original ==> OATLY – oat drink ==> no milk , no soy , no ….eh whatever , it`s Swedish and got even BETA -GLUCAN 0.4g/100ml in it .
so, i mean we haven`t gt that CRRAGEENAN in cottage cheese or ALPRO milks i been drinking for last 3 years since i had cancer … see maybe you got Alpro milks in US instead .
Dr. Jockers, What tooth paste would you recommend?
This is what I use. Got scared that it to would be on the list but as you can see, no carrageenan.
Ingredients: ORGANIC COCONUT MILK (WATER, ORGANIC COCONUT CREAM), ORGANIC DRIED CANE SYRUP, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM, VITAMIN A ACETATE, VITAMIN D2, L-SELENOMETHIONINE (SELENIUM), ZINC OXIDE, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN B12.
So Delicious Dairy Free | Coconutmilk Beverages | Original
My wife recently discovered “137 degrees” brand of Almond Milk made in Thailand (we live in Thailand) the label looks like it is meant for international market, carrageenan free, cane sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, soy free all listed on the front label. Ingredients listed as 95% almond milk from California almonds and 5% sunflower extract and no preservatives added. Tastes as close to home made as I have ever tasted.
I make my own raw nut milks and also raw nut cheeses including sour cream and cream cheese. It’s easy and they are
vegan and taste 100% better than commercially produced milks and they are healthy.
Indeed..! Don’t buy any processed foods at all. Make your own. Blender, water, nuts. 🙂
Yeah, but do they tell you that the almond milk your consuming may have been sprayed with PPO gas? Carrageenan is not exactly what I would like to have in my milk but their is also something else that I would more worried about if choosing to drink almond milk. Most of the almonds sold in the U.S. have been fumigated … to kill bacteria and prevent salmonella contamination by using a closed chamber to be fumigated with propylene oxide gas. How do you know if the almond milk your drinking hasn’t been sprayed with PPO gas before turning it into milk? Obviously, they are not going to put that on their labeling. Why is it that chemical companies in America are allowed to sell this stuff to companies in order to treat food products that are slowly poisoning us so they can make a profit. Another ingredient one maybe consuming to increase their cancer demise.
Plenish Almond milk in the UK is just nuts, water & Himalayan salt – no nasties!
Try Cashew milk – it is not in there!
I checked blue diamond and that is not listed as an ingredient. I like Blue diamond because it’s not too thick like silk brand etc..
I agree. Love the Blue Diamond, unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Only 30 calories.
I bought a 1/2 gallon of Silk almond original and the ingredients label does not list carrageenan. However, Kroger’s carbmaster milk and their cottage cheese and dips do.
I’ve been wondering about the tetrapaks that my almond and coconut milks come in. They’re lined with plastic… Is this packaging a health problem?
How about gellan gum? Found it in Almond breeze drink.
Is carrageenan unhealthy in all uses? Specifically, I am noticing it is in a lot of supplants. Ie Algea Omega 3 capsules and Vegen Vitamin D. Is carrageenan unhealthy in these applications as well? As a Vegan, finding it very hard to find gelatin and cornstarch free supplements that do. It contain carrageenan.
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Most brands of almond milk do not contain carrageenan, and most brands of dairy products do not either.
One should always know what they are putting in their body, but this article is more fear mongering then educating.
I’d say educational not fear mongering. Most people have no idea about this ingredient. Good work Charlene!
I never buy nor drink those nut milks because they consist of too much artificial sugar. I once made my own almond milk from Liana Werner-Gray’s Earth Diet book.