Description

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a substance that the people extract it from red and purple seaweeds, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. The usage of this product is as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products.

Furthermore, It has consist of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium sulfate esters of galactose and 3, 6-anhydrogalactose units. The food companies obtain this wholly natural ingredient  from certain species of red edible seaweed.

The Chondrus Crispus species grows mainly in cold water territories. Like the northern coasts of the Atlantic while the Eucheuma species is finding in tropical climates like the Philippines.

There are three types which are of commercial interest because of the various applications of hydrocolloids in food and other industrial uses.