[Advance on safety evaluation of carrageenan]

Abstract

Carrageenan is a collective term for polysaccharides prepared by alkaline extraction from red seaweed (Rhodophycae). Different carrageenans are widely used as food and medicinal ingredients and applied in chemical and biochemical researches. The studies in recent years showed that long-term administration of carrageenan in various animals can cause intestine mucous membrane damage or ulcerous colonitis, and produce or promote tumor growth. It is necessary to perform more epidemiological and essential studies to evaluate the safety of Carrageenan.