Carrageenan in Kroger Cottage Cheese does not make it harmful. The product is safe to consume.

Kroger Cottage Cheese is a popular dairy product known for its rich, creamy texture and high protein content. It is one of the loved products when added to snacks, salads, smoothies etc. 

Recent posts on social media showed concerns about the ingredients used in Kroger’s Cottage Cheese. People raised questions about the presence of carrageenan in the products. According to the claim carrageenan is a known carcinogen and also leads to inflammation and digestive issues which makes the product unsafe to consume. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Although there are studies which showed carrageenan leads to health issues but FDA, EFSA and other food regulatory bodies declared it as safe when consumed under the Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) values.

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Fact Check-

As per the information available on Kroger’s website, the cottage cheese contains ingredients like cultured skim milk, cultured cream, whey, salt, potassium chloride, maltodextrin, citric acid, carrageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum etc. 

According to a study, the FDA in 2012 rejected a request to ban carrageenan in food but didn’t fully review all scientific research. The report on the study further tried to encourage consumers to resist using products with carrageenan which will eventually put pressure on the brands to stop using the ingredient in their products. 

But, further research on this led us to the National Library of Medicine’s report on the use of carrageenan as a food additive. According to the report, food-grade carrageenan does not get absorbed by the body. It remains stable in the digestive system. Studies show that carrageenan does not cause cancer or promote tumors, and its effects on the immune system are not relevant to its oral consumption. Toxicological studies on carrageenan at very high doses (much higher than human exposure) show no harmful effects. International food safety organizations, like JECFA, have reviewed carrageenan and consider it safe for consumption. 

EFSA evaluated the food additive carrageenan (E407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a). Studies show that carrageenan is not absorbed by the body, is not toxic even in large amounts, and does not cause cancer or genetic damage. Processed Eucheuma seaweed is also considered safe. However, there are still some uncertainties about its chemistry, how much people are exposed to, and some biological effects. Because of these unknowns, the current safe intake limit of 75 mg per kg of body weight per day has been set. More research is being done to better understand carrageenan’s effects.

According to FDA, Carrageenan is a food additive made from specific types of red seaweed, such as Chondrus crispus and Eucheuma cottonii, and is approved for use as an emulsifier, stabilizer, or thickener in foods, except in standardized foods where such use is not permitted. It is a sulfated polysaccharide with a sulfate content of 20-40% on a dry weight basis. To ensure safety, products containing carrageenan must clearly label it as “carrageenan.”

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Although carrageenan may have some kinds of side effects, according to the food safety regulatory bodies, it is safe when consumed under Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) limit value.