Food additives data book - wordpres

particularly potassium and calcium salts of kappa- and iota-carrageenans which require temperatures
above 60°C for dissolution
FUNCTION IN FOODS: Gelling agent; thickening agent; stabiliser; flocculant and bulking agent. It can be used to stabilise
emulsions and to retard ice-crystal formation
ALTERNATIVES: Gelatin; gellan; agar; alginate; xanthan; furcellaran (application-dependent)
TECHNOLOGY OF USE IN FOODS: Carrageenans should be dispersed in cold water and heated for 10 minutes at 80°C to hydrate the
polysaccharide. A high shear mixer will aid dispersion, although prolonged shear of high molecularweight
polymers will reduce the viscosity.
Commercially available grades of carrageenan are complex mixtures of a wide range of carrageenans
(kappa, iota, lambda, etc.) with different molecular weights, a range of different cations (chiefly
potassium, sodium and calcium) and other constituents (e.g. polysorbate 80, celluloses in PES).
Consequently, the functional properties of carrageenan extracts are extremely diverse.
Extracts with a high concentration of kappa-carrageenan form strong thermoreversible gels with high
melting points, especially in combination with potassium ions or casein. Iota-carrageenan-enriched
carrageenans can be used for compliant gels and form stronger gels with calcium ions than potassium
ions. Lambda-carrageenans do not gel at all, but can be useful thickeners.
Carrageenans are particularly suitable for dairy applications because the strong synergistic
interaction with casein allows gel formation at very low carrageenan concentrations (e.g. 0.04% w/w).
The flocculation properties of carrageenans have traditionally been used to clarify beers and wines.
Carrageenans can interact with proteins below the protein isoelectric point, and this interaction has
been used to improve the stability of protein products
SYNERGISTS: Casein; chitosan; locust bean gum; potassium; calcium
ANTAGONISTS: Any positive or negatively charged molecule is a potential antagonist
FOOD SAFETY ISSUES: Suspected carcinogen. May induce colonic ulcers. The powder is combustible
Carrageenan 685