Carrageenan

Not approved

Linked in animal studies to gut inflammation; banned in EU infant formula.

E / INS number: E407
Class: Synthetic Thickener
Allowed in organic: No

Also known as

e407

Regulatory status

Jurisdiction	Status	Notes	Source
EU	restricted	Not permitted in infant formula in the EU.	European Commission
US	restricted	Removed from the USDA Organic National List in 2018 — no longer allowed in USDA Organic products. (2018-11-04)	USDA NOSB

Other synthetic thickener ingredients

Modified Food Starch Xanthan Gum

Scan it instead of reading labels

SmartChoice checks every ingredient on a product against these same rules — point your camera at the barcode and get a verdict in seconds.

Get SmartChoice — free on iPhone

Educational information, not medical, dietary, or safety advice. Classifications reflect our editorial rules plus cited regulatory sources. Always read the product’s own label.