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Ingredient library

Worth knowing · Thickener

Carrageenan

Also appears on labels as: Irish moss extract

A seaweed-derived polysaccharide that gels wet food into a pate or gravy.

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Where it comes from
Extracted from red seaweed.
Why it's in the product
Texture in canned and pouched food.
Safety and toxicity
Food-grade carrageenan is different from poligeenan, the degraded form used to induce inflammation in lab research, and regulators consider it safe. Some studies suggest food-grade carrageenan can partially degrade during digestion.
Interactions and who should be careful
A mild caution: fine for most pets, worth avoiding if yours has chronic GI issues. Agar-agar and guar gum thicken without the debate.

What the research says

Food-grade carrageenan is different from the degraded form (poligeenan) used to induce inflammation in lab research, and regulators consider it safe. Still, some studies suggest food-grade carrageenan can degrade during digestion, and some cats with sensitive stomachs do better without it.

We treat it as a mild caution: fine for most pets, worth avoiding if yours has chronic GI issues, and easy to find pâtés that thicken with agar-agar instead.

Placeholder Sources: Source citations for this entry will be linked here once the citations feed is connected. Until then, ask us for the reading list any time: [email protected].

General reference, not veterinary advice. Dose, breed, and existing conditions change the answer, so talk to your vet before changing what your pet eats. Think we got this wrong? Tell us and we log it publicly.

Found in 35 scored products

We flag it by name on 35 of them. Lowest scores first.

Panel Score 47 out of 100, grade F: We'd skip it
Meow MixTender Centers Salmon & Chicken

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
CesarFilet Mignon Flavor Wet Dog Food

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 71 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
CesarClassic Loaf in Sauce Grilled Steak & Eggs Flavorimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 72 out of 100, grade C: Proceed with caution
Gravy TrainMeaty Ground Dinner With Beef & Bacon

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 75 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fancy FeastFlaked Chicken & Tuna Feastimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 76 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Heart to TailPremium Cat Food Turkey & Giblets Entreeimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
CesarClassic Loaf in Sauce Chicken & Liver Recipeimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 79 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Purina Dog ChowHigh Protein With Real Beef (Classic Ground)imported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 80 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
OxyfreshPremium Pet Toothpaste

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 80 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Pure BalanceHigh Protein Grain Free Chicken & Turkey Recipe In Sauce For Catsimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 82 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Royal CaninFeline Health Nutrition Indoor Adult Morsels in Gravy

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 82 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Natural BalanceTargeted Nutrition Zen Life Canned Dog Foodimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fussie CatPremium Tuna With Chicken Formula In Aspic

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Fussie CatPremium Tuna With Salmon Formula In Aspicimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Nature's RecipeGrain Free Chicken Recipe In Savory Brothimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 83 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Nature's RecipeGrain Free Chicken & Lamb Recipe In Savory Brothimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 84 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Hill's Science DietAdult Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entrée

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 84 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Hill's Science DietAdult 7+ Savory Beef Entrée

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 84 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Pure BalanceGrain Free Wet Dog Food Chicken Dinner (Pate)imported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
FreshpetFreshpet Small Dog Food Chicken & Turkey with Canberries and Spinichimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Blue BuffaloDuck Recipeimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Blue BuffaloTastefuls Adult Chicken Entrée Patéimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
AuthorityEveryday Health Chicken & Liver Entree In Gravy (Shredded) For Adult Catsimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

Panel Score 86 out of 100, grade B: Good, check the flags
Blue BuffaloFreedom Indoor Chicken Recipeimported, not reviewed

flagged on this product's score page

11 more scored products list this ingredient. Showing the 24 lowest-scoring.