FDA Status
GRAS
Thickener · CAS 9000-07-1 · EU E407
Carrageenan
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
3.0 / 5
Composite safety Mixed Evidence
Score 3 of 5
Carrageenan: 3/5 (Mixed Evidence)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Carrageenan is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive.
- 98th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Carrageenan is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is a top-5% most widely-used additive (98th percentile by tracked product count).
- 3/5
- Mixed Evidence
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 98th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Carrageenan (E407), CAS 9000-07-1, is a thickener additive holding a composite safety score of 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 3,732 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Almond milk, ice cream, yogurt, deli meats.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Carrageenan to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Carrageenan, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2018/04/26, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 75. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "high" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E407 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 9000-07-1 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Thickener | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 3 / 5 (Mixed Evidence) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 75 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 3,732 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E407
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Carrageenan's 3/5 (Mixed Evidence) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Carrageenan as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Carrageenan. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Carrageenan compares
Where a safety score of 3/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Carrageenan highlighted)
25 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.6%) share a safety score of 3/5.
What is Carrageenan?
Seaweed-derived thickener and stabilizer.
Health Concerns
- Some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation.
Common Uses
Almond milk, ice cream, yogurt, deli meats
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carrageenan safe to consume?
Carrageenan has a safety score of 3/5 (Mixed Evidence). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Carrageenan used for in food?
Carrageenan is commonly used as: Almond milk, ice cream, yogurt, deli meats. It belongs to the Thickener category of food additives.
Is Carrageenan banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Carrageenan. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Carrageenan?
The FDA classifies Carrageenan as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E407). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Carrageenan?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Carrageenan: Some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation.. These findings inform its safety score of 3/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Carrageenan calculated?
The safety score of 3/5 for Carrageenan is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
What to do about Carrageenan
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.