Chemistry in daily life- Carrageenan

The toothpaste is a product that all the persons use daily when washed the tooth. The product contain many ingredients, one of this ingredients is carragenan (gelatin-type substance derived from a red seaweed often called Irish Moss)

This ingredient can be use in foods, milk products, ice cream, beer, shampoo, etc.. In the toothpaste, carrageenan, is used to stabilizer to prevent constituents separating. In others products the use are similar: thickener, increase viscosity, increase water retention.

Carrageenan has been found to cause health problems for many people, including vomiting, ulcerative colitis.

Reference

"What Is Carrageenan?" Bukisa - Share Your Knowledge. 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.bukisa.com/articles/54673_what-is-carrageenan>.


Shemberg Corporation -- The Innovative Carrageenan Specialists. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.shemberg.com.ph/carrageenan.html>.