At a glance

How does Carrageenan appear on a UK label?

Names to look forcarrageenan, E407, processed eucheuma seaweed, PES, E407a
E-numberE407 / E407a
Why it is usedThickening, suspension, gelling and stabilisation.
Common inPlant milks, dairy desserts, processed meats, sauces and ice cream.

Useful label-reading detail

Keep E407, E407a and degraded carrageenan/poligeenan separate when reading research.

How it is classified

Seaweed-derived thickeners/stabilisers and possible NOVA formulation markers. They are not FODMAPs.

Why amount matters

Food-grade exposure, formulation and molecular-weight distribution matter. Labels generally do not state the amount.

Evidence by study type

What do studies show about Carrageenan?

Exploratory placebo-controlled trial

What was studied: Sixty healthy adults entered six small arms after an emulsifier-free run-in. No between-group inflammatory or metabolic marker differences were found overall; several exploratory intestinal findings were reported.

What it cannot tell us: Small arms, four weeks of supplementation and exploratory endpoints cannot establish long-term harm or safety for an individual.

Sources2026 emulsifier trial

What human studies show about Carrageenan

Human intervention evidence for gastrointestinal harm at typical mixed-diet exposure remains limited. A 2026 exploratory trial found no overall inflammatory difference; its carrageenan arm showed increased transcellular permeability from baseline, a finding requiring replication.

SourcesUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerEFSA carrageenan assessment2026 emulsifier trial

What animal or laboratory studies suggest about Carrageenan

Cell and animal studies raise inflammation hypotheses, but material, dose and model may differ from food exposure. Molecular form and interaction with mucus or microbiota are active research questions.

SourcesUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerEFSA carrageenan assessment2026 emulsifier trial

What we still do not know about Carrageenan

Long-term effects at typical intake and susceptibility in particular groups remain uncertain.

Great Britain regulatory context

E407 and E407a are authorised in Great Britain. EFSA’s 2018 assessment kept a temporary group acceptable daily intake of 75 mg/kg body weight per day while identifying material and exposure uncertainties.

SourcesUK approved-additives listGreat Britain food-additive registerEFSA carrageenan assessment2026 emulsifier trial

Common questions

Questions people ask about this label

What is the difference between E407 and E407a?

E407 is carrageenan; E407a is processed eucheuma seaweed, a related less-refined seaweed product. They have separate authorised names and specifications.

SourcesUK approved-additives listEFSA carrageenan assessment

Is food-grade carrageenan the same as degraded carrageenan?

No. Degraded carrageenan, often called poligeenan, is not authorised as a food additive. Research must be checked for the material actually tested.

SourcesEFSA carrageenan assessment

Does authorisation prove carrageenan has no effects?

No. Authorisation means specified food uses are permitted after regulatory assessment. It should be presented alongside the assessment’s uncertainties and newer human evidence, not as a universal promise.

SourcesUK approved-additives listEFSA carrageenan assessment2026 emulsifier trial

References

Sources used for this page

  1. Food Standards Agency, Approved additives and E numbers
  2. Food Standards Agency, Register of food-additive authorisations for Great Britain
  3. EFSA ANS Panel (2018), Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E407) and E407a
  4. Wellens et al. (2026), Placebo-controlled trial of five dietary emulsifiers

Written and evidence-checked by the GutGuard editorial team. We favour official UK guidance, systematic reviews and primary human research, and label animal, laboratory and exploratory findings clearly. Read our editorial method.