Food Industry Cover-up On Carrageenan
These are the types of stories that should make you mad. Really mad. The Cornucopia Institute– a farm policy research group– just released a report, and will formally do so on April 25th- at the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board meeting- summarizing research that proves that all food-grade carrageenan contains a carcinogenic contaminant—low molecular weight poligeenan. During the meeting, the board will debate whether to remove carrageenan from its list of ‘approved use’ in organic food.
Carrageenan is harvested from edible red seaweed, and is used to thickener/stabilize foods (although organic alternatives to it exist) like: infant formula, plant-based beverages, deli meats, and some dairy products. And because it is so pervasive, many people have discovered a correlation between carrageenan in their diets and symptoms they experience after eating, such as diarrhea/irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colitis. Thus, when some people simply remove it from their diet- their symptoms disappear. In fact, carrageenan does such a good job at inflammation, that it’s often used to study the molecular signals involved in cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs. But sure, it’s safe enough to eat…in loads of things.
From the article:
“Now, the industry’s own data has revealed that all twelve food-grade carrageenan samples tested did in fact contain poligeenan in varying quantities up to 25%,” said Linley Dixon, PhD, Cornucopia’s Senior Staff Scientist.
Publicly-funded researchers have published dozens of studies on the harmful health effects of consuming food-grade carrageenan, but the industry has aggressively responded by funding its own studies, many of which Cornucopia critiques in the new report.
Research has shown that besides the initial contamination in food-grade carrageenan, stomach acid in the human digestive tract can convert a percentage of carrageenan that may otherwise be safe into the most dangerous, carcinogenic form.”
In Cornucopia’s report, they detail the many flaws in some of the industry-funded studies used by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) as justification for using carrageenan in food. The report also provides a rebuttal to the industry’s critique of publicly funded research (the majority of which were funded by the NIH). As we all know, if you want to malign someone’s opinion, just discredit their research and then fund your own studies to the contrary.
Like any other industry would do, the carrageenan one is aggressively lobbying the NOSB. However, attempting to cover up the harmful effects of this food agent, was not wise, especially not with this group– organic consumers. We are known to be well read and passionate, and I have no doubt that on April 25th, in Washington, our community’s voices will be heard. Thank you to those companies who are in the process of using another option, or who have already stopped using carrageenan, for instead choosing the health and safety of your consumers. You have earned our appreciation and our loyalty.
Source: Cornucopia.org
