FDA Deems Carrageenan Safe in Foods

ATLANTA, Ga.In 2008, Dr. Joanne Tobacman, a physician-scientist at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, filed a citizens petition for the revocation of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 172, Section 620, which allows for the use of carrageenan as a food additive. Tobacman believes carrageenan and its breakdown product create dangerous inflammation.

The FDA recently made public its letter concluding that  Tobacman's claims do not adequately support the revocation of 21 CFR 172.620. In the response document, the FDA references several studies that contradict allegations from Tobacman that carrageenan is unsafe in food, and further concludes that the data in the studies referenced by Tobacman are not relevant to exposure from human consumption of food containing the direct food additives in question."

In a  press release, CP Kelco, a producer of carrageenan, commends the research and response by the FDA in validating the safety of the ingredient. CP Kelco, as now re-confirmed by the U.S. government, has always believed in the safety, function and acceptance of carrageenan for use in food, beverages, toothpastes, pet foods, other applications; and 150 years of safe use as a food additive," says Klaus Bjerrum, carrageenan product category director.