Carrageenan — E407

Description

1. Product Overview
   Carrageenan (E407) is a high-performance, plant-derived hydrocolloid extracted from red seaweed, widely used as a thickening, gelling, and stabilizing agent across multiple industrial sectors. It plays a critical role in food, pharmaceutical, and personal care formulations by delivering consistent texture, viscosity control, and product stability. Its key value proposition lies in its versatility, clean-label compatibility, and ability to replace animal-derived gelatin in vegan and vegetarian applications.

Strategically, Carrageenan is a core functional ingredient in the global shift toward plant-based, processed, and convenience food systems, making it a high-demand input in modern industrial supply chains.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical Composition: Sulfated polysaccharides (primarily galactans derived from red seaweed)
• Grade: Food Grade / Pharmaceutical Grade (E407 compliant)
• Purity: ≥ 85–95% active carrageenan content (depending on grade)
• Appearance: White to light yellow free-flowing powder
• Particle Size: Typically 80–120 mesh (customizable upon request)
• Moisture Content: ≤ 12%
• Ash Content: ≤ 15%
• Solubility: Soluble in hot water, forms thermo-reversible gels in presence of ions
• Packaging Options: 25 kg multi-layer kraft paper bags with inner PE lining or jumbo bags (custom bulk packaging available)
• Shelf Life: 24–36 months under cool, dry, sealed storage conditions

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Food & Beverage Industry: Used in dairy products (milk, yogurt, chocolate milk), plant-based dairy alternatives, jellies, desserts, sauces, and processed meats
• Meat Processing: Improves water retention, texture binding, and yield optimization in sausages and deli meats
• Confectionery: Provides gel structure and elasticity in gummies and sweets
• Pharmaceuticals: Acts as a stabilizer and binder in tablets, suspensions, and controlled-release formulations
• Cosmetics & Personal Care: Used in gels, creams, toothpaste, and lotions for viscosity and texture control

Carrageenan outperforms many starch-based and synthetic stabilizers by delivering superior thermal stability, stronger gelling performance, and consistent texture under varying pH and processing conditions.

4. Competitive Advantages

• High Functional Consistency: Reliable gel strength and viscosity performance across production batches
• Clean-Label & Vegan Compliance: Plant-derived alternative to animal gelatin
• Strong Formulation Flexibility: Compatible with other hydrocolloids (e.g., locust bean gum, guar gum)
• Cost Efficiency: Low usage levels deliver high functional output, optimizing formulation economics
• Supply Reliability: Stable sourcing from established red seaweed supply chains
• Certification Support: Available with ISO, HACCP, Halal, and Kosher documentation
• Technical Support: Full formulation guidance and application assistance available for industrial buyers
• Sustainability Profile: Renewable marine biomass source with scalable production footprint

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): BULK 20 MT
• Packaging: 25 kg bags (standard), bulk jumbo packaging available on request
• Loading Capacity: Approximately 20–22 MT per 20 ft container
• Supply Type: Export-grade bulk supply with consistent long-term availability
• Delivery Terms: Flexible international shipping options available upon agreement