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What is carrageenan (E407)?

Published 29 October 2026

Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent made from red seaweed, and its code on UK labels is E407. You'll often find it in cream, plant drinks, desserts, cooked ham and some cottage cheese.

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It is on the FSA's list of approved additives. This guide explains what it does, where it hides, and which foods we've found without it.

What is carrageenan derived from?

Carrageenan comes from red seaweed. The seaweed is dried and treated to pull out the carrageenan. It is then sold as a powder to food makers.

There is a close relative too. E407a is "processed eucheuma seaweed". It is made from the same kind of seaweed, but it is less refined.

EFSA, the European food safety body, has reviewed both. Its review explains how they are made.

What does carrageenan do in food?

Carrageenan has a few jobs:

  • It thickens drinks and sauces.
  • It turns liquids into soft gels, like in desserts.
  • It stops milk and plant drinks from splitting.
  • It helps cooked ham hold water and keep its shape.

On a label, it often comes after the word "thickener", "stabiliser" or "gelling agent".

Is carrageenan vegan?

Yes. Carrageenan comes from seaweed, not from animals. It is often used in vegan foods as a swap for gelatine.

What foods contain carrageenan?

These are the places you're most likely to see it:

  • single, double and whipping cream
  • squirty cream
  • plant drinks (almond, oat, soya, coconut)
  • chocolate milk and milkshakes
  • custard, mousse and other desserts
  • cooked, sliced ham and turkey
  • some cottage cheese and soft cheese
  • some ice cream

Some people choose to avoid carrageenan. Some just want shorter lists. We don't make claims either way. Our rules leave out E407 along with other gums, so we only list foods without it.

How to spot carrageenan on a label

UK rules say each additive must be shown with what it does, then its name or E number. So you'll see things like:

  • Stabiliser: Carrageenan
  • Thickener (E407)
  • Gelling Agent: E407a

Steps to check:

  1. Find "Ingredients".
  2. Look for "stabiliser", "thickener" or "gelling agent".
  3. Look for "carrageenan", "E407" or "E407a".

Cream without carrageenan

Many creams add a stabiliser. These are just cream or milk, with cultures in the soured cream.

Plant drinks without carrageenan

Many plant drinks add gums, carrageenan or oil. These are just water, the nut or bean, and sometimes salt.

Shake well. Plant drinks without thickeners can settle in the carton. That's normal. It doesn't mean the drink has gone off. A good shake mixes it back together.

See our plant milks without seed oils list and our cream and milk without gums list.

Cottage cheese and ham without carrageenan

The cottage cheese is cottage cheese and salt. The ham is a dry-cured ham, made with just pork and salt. Dry-cured hams don't need thickeners.

See our cottage cheese without gums and ham without nitrites lists.

Is carrageenan the same as agar?

No. They are both made from red seaweed, and both can make gels. But they are different things.

  • Carrageenan is E407.
  • Agar is E406.

Agar is often used in vegan jellies and desserts. Our rules leave out agar too. That's because they leave out all gelling agents, not just carrageenan.

What other gums are like carrageenan?

These do similar jobs. All are on the FSA's list:

  • E410 locust bean gum
  • E412 guar gum
  • E415 xanthan gum
  • E418 gellan gum
  • E466 carboxy methyl cellulose

Our rules leave these out too.

Recipe ideas without carrageenan

FAQ

What is E407 in food? E407 is carrageenan. It is a thickener and gelling agent made from red seaweed.

Is carrageenan the same as E407a? They are close. E407a is processed eucheuma seaweed. Both have similar jobs.

Is there carrageenan in double cream? Some double cream has it. Some doesn't. Check the list for "stabiliser".

Is carrageenan vegan? Yes. It comes from seaweed.

Sources

  • GOV.UK (FSA), Approved additives and E numbers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approved-additives-and-e-numbers/approved-additives-and-e-numbers
  • GOV.UK (FSA), Food additives (how additives are labelled): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-additives/food-additives
  • EFSA, Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a): https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5238

Holding a carton? Take a photo of the label in The Better Basket, and we'll check it for carrageenan and gums.

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