Is Carrageenan Safe? Here's What You Should Know

What Is Carrageenan?

Carrageenan is a natural ingredient that comes from red seaweed. It's been used safely in foods for decades and has gotten the green light from health authorities like the FDA, the European Food Safety Authority, and the World Health Organization. These aren't organizations that take food safety lightly.

Where Do the Carrageenan Concerns Come From?

Most of it stems from old animal studies that used something called degraded carrageenan, which is a completely different substance that's not even approved for use in food. The carrageenan we use in Devotion is food grade, which means it's safe, it doesn't get absorbed by your body, and it simply passes through your digestive system. We use it because it gives our protein powder that smooth, creamy texture you love, without any weird chalky aftertaste.

Is Carrageenan Bad for You?

The bottom line is this: there's no credible human research showing that food grade carrageenan causes harm or inflammation. The amount we use is tiny, just enough to improve texture, and it's far below any level that could possibly affect your health.

I also want you to know that we don't take shortcuts when it comes to quality. Every batch of Devotion is third party tested for safety and accuracy. We test for heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, and our results are always well within safe limits (at or below 0.05 ppm). Yes, trace amounts of things like lead can naturally show up in soil and water, even in organic produce, but we make sure our products stay far below any safety threshold.

At the end of the day, I use these products myself. My family uses them. We wouldn't put anything out there that we wouldn't feel 100% confident giving to the people we love. That's what we hold ourselves to, and it's why you can trust what's in every scoop of our delicious protein.

Frequently Asked Questions We Get About Carrageenan

Is carrageenan safe to consume daily?
Yes. Food grade carrageenan has been approved for daily consumption by the FDA, WHO, and European Food Safety Authority. It passes through your digestive system without being absorbed.

What's the difference between food grade carrageenan and degraded carrageenan?
Food grade carrageenan is what's used in foods and supplements, it's safe and regulated. Degraded carrageenan is a different substance not approved for food use and is what was used in some animal studies that raised concerns.

Does carrageenan cause inflammation?
Human studies have not shown that food grade carrageenan causes inflammation. The concerns come from animal studies using degraded carrageenan at doses far higher than what's found in food.

How much carrageenan is in Devotion protein powder?
We use a very small amount, just enough to create a smooth texture. It's far below any level that could have a biological effect on your health.

Are Devotion products tested for safety?
Yes. All Devotion products are third party tested for safety, quality, label accuracy, and heavy metals. Our results consistently meet or exceed safety standards

When you choose Devotion, you're choosing a company that values your health as much as you do. 

If you’d like to read more from the EFSA food additive research data please click here: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7860