The "And We Eat This Stuff? Story

It was an ordinary day.  Using my large magnifying glass to check out the ingredients that are printed on the label of the food we feed our two cats.  A few minutes ago I was looking at a warning for the additive carrageenan that said 70% of canned pet foods contain carrageenan.  So why is carrageenan added to cat food as well as food that we consume on a daily basis and use in everyday life.  It adds no nutritional value or flavor, but its unique chemical structure makes it exceptionally useful as a binder, thickening agent and stabilizer.  

Found in red algae and seaweed.

So where do we get carrageenan?  It is derived from red algae or seaweeds since the 1930s and is processed through an alkaline procedure to produce what many consider to be a "natural" food ingredient.  If you happen to prepare the same algae or seaweed in an acidic solution, you get what is referred to as "degraded carrageenan" or poligeenan.  And, the stuff seems to be everywhere.  It can be found in organic yogurt, tofu, coconut milk, baby formula and even in turkey cold cuts.  Now, what are the bad things about it?  It has a long and controversial reputation as an emulsifier that damages the digestive system.  Degraded carrageenan is commonly used in drug trials to literally induce inflammation and other diseases in lab animals.  And, we eat this stuff!!  Now, I know there is a difference between the disease-producing carrageenan and its "natural" food counterpart.  Carrageenan is an active ingredient in solutions we use to treat everything from coughs to intestinal problems.  

It can be found in just about anything including ice cream.

It is also known to decrease pain and swelling and has been used as a laxative and to treat peptic ulcers.  And, as I shared with you before, it is found in a variety of pet foods and healthcare products such as toothpaste.  But (you knew this was coming) research says that it can cause:  Large bowel ulcerations, Ulcerative colitis, fetal toxicity & birth defects, colorectal cancer, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, inflammation, liver cancer, immune suppression and promoting the growth of abnormal colon glands, which are the precursors to polyps.  

Also can be found in candy.

I should tell you that what I read says that as long as you don't have more than 5% of the additive carrageenan in your diet, the only side effect may be soft stools and diarrhea.  I will try to be more observant when buying and using products that contain carrageenan.  As I examined the cat food we feed our two newcomers, I found that the Friskies Tasty Treasures did have the additive in the cans while the Sheba containers and Purina Fancy Feast Medleys did not.  Since Carol and I do not want any problems with ourselves as well as our pets, we will watch what we eat and will no longer buy the Friskies cans.  As the saying goes.....Better safe than sorry!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.