With multiple milk sensitivities in our house, and the drive to eliminate animal-based foods from our diet, almond milk and coconut milk have become staples in our fridge.
I used to make almond milk from scratch, but recently starting buying the almond/coconut milk combo from Blue Diamond.
It’s convenient, tastes good and saves time. But is it harming my family’s health?
According to a new report – yes.
Before I get into it, if you’re drinking any sort of milk substitute, go grab it and look for this ingredient: Carrageenan.
Did you find it? I did!
Carrageenan is a common ingredient in the majority of milk substitutes, baby formulas, cottage cheese and, sadly, even some flavored coconut waters. It’s used as a stabilizer and/or emulsifier. And it doesn’t even matter if the product is USDA certified organic. Sigh.
I’ve seen Carrageenan over and over as an ingredient listed in packaged foods the last few years. I always thought it was a soy derivative so I’ve tried to avoid it, but not as aggressively as I should have.
Carrageenan is actually derived from red seaweed, so I totally had its source wrong. But my gut was right in telling me something just wasn’t okay with consuming it.
Recently, the Cornucopia Institute released a Video as well as a PDF Report outlining some upsetting practices between the USDA and NOSA (National Organic Standards Board (the agency regulating organic food)).
One of the most troubling issues involves an ingredient that has been deemed carcinogenic. Yep, you guess it, Carrageenan.
There are 2 “classes” of Carrageenan: food safe and approved (aka undergraded) and non-approved or non-food-safe (aka degraded). I’ll just call them food safe and non-food safe from here on out to make it clear which version I’m talking about (degraded and undegraded is just too confusing to keep straight).
There has been plenty of published, peer-reviews literature in the scientific community for decades showing that non-food-safe carrageenan is inflammatory and carcinogenic in lab animals. In fact, non-food safe carrageenan was listed as a “possible human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1983.
In addition, non-food-grade carrageenan has been shown to cause inflammation in rodents’ colons resembling ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
While it is well established that non-food-safe carrageenan is harmful, there have also been concerns with food-grade carrageenan dating back to the late 1970s! In fact, there are studies (including industry-funded studies) showing food-grade carrageenan is also linked to colon inflammation and colon cancer in animals. How did I not know this?
Additionally, some studies are reporting that “food-grade” carrageenan can degrade in the gastrointestinal tract to the same molecular weight/structure and non-food-grade carrageenan.
On top of that, when the industry tested food-grade carrageenan for the presence of non-food-grade carrageenan, every sample had at least some non-food grade carrageenen in it. Some samples had as much as 25% non-food-grade carrageenan.
Like I said, it doesn’t matter whether the product is organic or not (Carrageenan was approved for use in organics in 1995 and reapproved in 2008).
It just seems like there is too much controversy around carrageenen, and too much risk that it could cause colon inflammation and colon cancer. I will be steering clear of carrageenan starting now.
It’s not going to be easy though. It’s in a lot of products. This blog post over at Food Babe did a good job at outlining the major brands that use Carrageenan:
- Blue Diamond
- Carnation
- Horizon
- Pacific
- Silk (Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk does not have it)
- So Delicious
- Starbucks
- Tempt
- Zico
Are you using any of the brands on this list? I know we are using a few of them! On my next shopping trip, I’ll be reading labels closely to see if I can make some recommendations of safer brands.
About Chrystal Johnson
Chrystal, publisher of Happy Mothering, is a mother of two sweet girls who believes in living a simple, natural lifestyle. A former marketing manager, Chrystal spends her time researching green and eco-friendly alternatives to improve her family's life. She enjoys sharing those discoveries with anyone who's willing to listen.
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{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: healthyhomemag
May 31, 2012 at 1:38 pm
So especially frustrating that it is approved for use in organic products. Just when we think we’re doing something safer/healthier for our kids…
I just checked a couple of products in our house. Fred Meyer brand cottage cheese and Kirkland Brand (from Costco) Organic Soy milk both list Carrageenan as an ingredient. Boo.
Erin N recently posted..Go Green Get Fit Challenge
Sorry Erin. I hope you find a better alternative!
Erin, it may be a blessing in disguise for you because unfermented soy (organic or not) is actually not healthy at all.
Twitter: HealthyHomeMag
June 1, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Stephanie – you’re absolutely right! We have made so many healthy changes and giving up my soy milk was one I just hadn’t been willing to do yet. But this pushed me over the edge and it is officially out of our house.
Erin N recently posted..Go Green Get Fit Challenge
Saying that any unfermented soy is unhealthy is an false, blanket statement. Yes, there are tons of unhealthy processed soy products out there, but eating soy in and of itself is perfectly healthy. I am pretty sure the Japanese have been doing for thousands of years, and this includes fermented soy and non-fermented soy. Just please watch the overreaching statements of opinion and not fact.
Well, seeing how Monsanto owns soy,it is NOT healthy AT ALL! Monsanto will have us all dying of cancer soon enough. I avoid all soy products. Saying that the Japanese have been using soy products for thousands of years really has nothing to do with the fact that Monsanto has ruined most products for us. It is becoming very hard to eat healthy and with out GMO products. Farmers markets are the way to go, but having to know what those farmers use and not use is tricky. You dont want to be buying from a local farmer that may have used any of Monsantos “organic” anything, or their neighbor had used something that would affect their crops…. This Monsanto thing is getting ridiculous and they need to STOP what they are doing. We need to BAN MONSTANTO,
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/18/soy-can-damage-your-health.aspx
Come on!
You are comparing two completely different cultures here! The US is known for their corrupted generated mass productive companies that will do anything-including put the good citizens of America in danger-for a major profit. The Japanese on the other hand, have implemented the Soybean Trust Movement since 2004, a trust that protests against GMO soybean crops. My point is the soy based products here in the US are known to be particularly dangerous to consume because the risk of eating GM soy is much greater than in Japan. Ever heard of MONSANTO??
Ugh. My coconut milk has it. My soy milk has it. Once again back to the drawing board.
Thanks for the info Chrystal though.
You’re welcome Misty. The other problem with these beverages is that they contain synthetic vitamins (which are often derived from petroleum), which makes them a bad choice there too.
Twitter: vagabondstudio
May 31, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I both love and hate you for posting this.
>>off to raid the fridge<.<!
Shai Smith recently posted..New Challenge! – What’s the Word?
I hated learning about it! I guess I need to either start making my own almond milk again, or try goat’s milk?
Chrystal,
As kids, my younger brother had milk allergies. The whole family switched to goats milk. My father then tested positive for TB! Apparently goats milk will cause a positive TB result -even if you don’t have it (he was the only one being tested though). It was a mess for him as a government employee.
Just wanted to warn you
November
Interesting fact! Unfortunately I have learned that casein is also in goat’s milk so it’s not an option for me.
Eeeek! Not good. Please update us with brand alternatives if you find them!
The 365 organic almond milk from Whole Foods doesn’t have it.
I don’t really use any of those products, but I know I’ve seen carrageenan in other ingredients listings before. Is there anything out there that is actually safe to eat? It doesn’t seem like it.
There are plenty of things that are safe to eat – mainly organic whole foods!
I have a neat appliance called SoyQuick and you don’t have to use soy – you pick the nut or bean you want to make your beverage from. It can also make tofu. Anyway, it’s one way around these problems!
Twitter: HealthyHomeMag
June 1, 2012 at 4:22 pm
That sounds perfect – I’m looking into it now – thanks for the recommendation!
Erin N recently posted..Go Green Get Fit Challenge
Twitter: HealthyHomeMag
June 1, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Just wanted to share a couple of other products that I found Carrageenan in today:
Horizon Organic Milk (the kind in the little Tetra Paks)
Ah!laska Organic Cocoa
Cocoa that does not have it: Equal Exchange
Will post more brands as I come across them. Thank you again for shedding light on this!
Erin N recently posted..Go Green Get Fit Challenge
Twitter: healthcoachjd
June 3, 2012 at 10:02 am
Thanks for this info! I always wondered about carageenan…
The Whole Foods 365 brand makes organic almond milk. No carageenan!
I’m sad to see that my Trader Joe’s coconut milk in a box does have it, though. I will see if 365 makes coconut milk in boxes. I like to avoid cans.
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Twitter: _tubbytelly
June 9, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I have tried to avoid carageenan due to it’s being an allergen to may allergic prone son. I find that it is added to everything that has calcium and vitamin d. I really don’t like that. Now that I have read your post I am even more reluctant to let my son consume it. We use trader joe’s organic soy milk and it has it as well.
Christine @ Mama Papa Barn recently posted..Win a Giftcard to ThanksMama for #clothdiapers and More, Worldwide
It’s terrible that there’s so much bad stuff in everything we eat. All the food companies care about is making money. Thanks for the info, I didn’t know that about carageenan. I will be looking out for it on my next shopping trip.
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We use the Native Forest Can Whole fast Coconut milk and make our own almond milk as well.
I have the Silk almond milk (unsweetened) and it does not list carageenan as an ingredient. Maybe the other varieties of Silk almond milk do?
I believe that is the one version of the silk almond milk that doesn’t contain carageenan. The unsweetened vanilla almond milk does have it, however.
Do not buy Silk products as they put a lot of money againstthe Cali label law that was shot down. They are NOT to be trusted!!!
I have the silk almond milk unsweetened and it does not have it in it.
Yes, that’s the only silk one that doesn’t have it, but the unsweetened vanilla does – so strange.
silk almond dark choc does not have it
Good to know. It appears Silk isn’t using it in many of their almond milk products now.
I just looked at my Silk vanilla almond milk and it doesn’t have it listed but my Blue Diamond Vanilla did.
I use TJ’s brand coconut milk and it has it and my son eats so delicious coconut yogurt which has it too. We are both allergic to almonds so can’t do that. I have never seen any other coconut yogurts out there?? Any suggestions?
Twitter: d2fitness
July 20, 2012 at 7:57 am
I switched to rice milk months ago…hopefully it won’t be next. :/
If you have a Sprouts near you, their brand of Almond milk does not have Carrageenan in it. Yay! And in San Diego, they are 2 for $5 right now! I just stocked up!
The Silk Vanilla Unsweetened Almond does not have carageenan. Has anyone heard anything about Vitamin A Palmitate being bad for you? Even the Vitamin D2 they add can be bad too?
Yes! I’ve noticed that the Silk Unsweetened varieties don’t have it. I need to research Vitamin A some more, but that is the form of Vitamin A that we are warned against putting on our skin since it has been shown to promote skin cancer. Here’s what I wrote about Vitamin D: http://www.happy-mothering.com/08/health-2/nutrition-health-2/vitamin-d-deficiency-how-to-meet-your-needs/
Hi I just some silk chocolate milk it does not contain carragen. It has locust bean gum which I hope is safe and Gellan Gum which seem to be two thickeners.
I found this article about Gellan Gum and thought to share. I am trying to find a safe alternative to milk for my 5 year old and she seems to like the Almond Milks and Soy Milks because she does not like dairy milk at all. I feel like eveytime I choose something even it if is organic or GMO free there is something else wrong with it… Very frustrationg..
http://macnmos.com/2012/01/fun-gum-guar-gellan-and-ask-the-dietitian-friday/
Making your own almond milk is really easy! I don’t recommend soy milk.
I just checked and Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk and Daisy cottage cheese doesn’t have carrageenan.
Yep, Silk Unsweetened is the way to go!
You should not support the Silk brand. They spent over $250,000.00 to help squash the Prop 37 campaign in California to help label GMO’s.
That is a very good point JR. I do like that their almond milk is non-GMO project verified, but I am disappointed that they supported No on Prop 37. Another push to get back to making it from scratch.
Thank you JR for sharing-very insightful.
You mentioned Crystal that Silks almond milk is non-GMO project verified….why on earth then would they pay $250,000 to help squash the prop 37 campaign in California that would help label GMO’s? Are many of their other products genetically modified?
I don’t have an answer. What I am saying is that it is nonsensical…fishy business. VERY Bad business practices for Silk, unethical to say the least. Why would anyone support a business that is trying to squash propositions that would promote accountability and good health?
I buy our almond milk at Fresh & Easy. It is organic and I just checked the label-no carrageenan, yay! However, the coconut milk does. I’m so disappointed in So Delicious because I loooove their products!
Oh no! Both my organic almond milk (Pacific, I believe, from Trader Joe’s) and the coconut milk from TJ’s have it listed. I’m tempted to go to Fresh and Easy today, but we have boycotted Silk due to prop 37/Gmo labeling. Uggh.
This is a link from the Cornucopia Institute that includes a shopping guide with products that are carrageenan free!
http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/
Best solution is making your own! Once you get in the habit, it’s not a problem. Just soak your almonds over night, blend with water in the AM and strain — make enough for a couple of days
Omg! I am so happy that I came across this post! Luckily we are using the unsweetened silk almond milk because I am trying to limit the amount of sugar consumed.
AlannaB recently posted..Sleep, Oh Precious…SLEEP! Keeping The Routine When Daddy Is Out Of Town
Once again spot on with your information. I have been reading so many labels lately and seeing this more and more. Every time I saw it my gut said avoid it, just like yours did. One label did go so far as to tell me it was derived from seaweed…which made me think it was a little better than it actually is. Thanks for sharing and I’ll go back to avoiding again!
Jesica H recently posted..Wreck-It Ralph available on 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack March 5th!
Thanks Jesica. It is derived from seaweed, but it’s highly processed and, like so many processed ingredients, not good for your health!
So I have been more aware of what I eat and feed my family I have become the “chief of health” for my family. What is insane is I did not realize how much control our government has in our food and then again to find out how they allow large corporations to ruin our health by neglecting our food safety. I may be a little late but today I saw the movie “Food Inc.” for those of you who don’t believe in eating organic, this film will change the way you shop and second guess what you consume. To think that us as a society are progressing and revolutionizing and improving the world but in reality it appears that as a high tech nation we are finding ways to eradicate each and one of us little by little without remorse. Just thought I’d share this…. GO ORGANIC!!!
Twitter: SharpeFitX
March 12, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Wow great job on this Chrystal. My wife and I just reviewed this and are quite shocked at Almond Milk ingredient. We were looking at some alternatives, and were looking at rice milk. Of course at least we can feel good about water – or at least I hope!
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Thank you Bob! There is the arsenic concern with rice milk, so be careful there. The best is always making your own!
Silk no longer uses carrageenan in any of their Almond milks.
We began making our own almond milk a couple of months ago. It is so easy, inexpensive, quick, tastes amazingly better and uses 4 ingredients.
Soaked raw almonds, filtered water, vanilla and optional sweetner such as vanilla stevia drops or a couple of raw dates. Blend (hopefully you have a vitamix for quicker) until all liquid, pour through a thin towel or milk bag into your container, squeeze or milk it. You will have the almond pulp left over in the towel or bag, which you can reuse if you like and your delicious homemade almond milk! Then try cashew and hemp! You won’t want to go back to store bought brand.
Wow….
I am so upset over this. With our vi……mix blender my wife and I have been doing a real nice job being healthy, now only to discover this. How can any one win….?
Even trying to eat healthy can kill you. (my opinion).
Is there a link or a list of common foods and brands to look at.
Thanks…joe
Check out this list Joe: http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/
does anyone know if some brands of almond milk contain Casein or gluten? I’ve read that some thickening agents added to certain almond milks may contain some gluten or casein! Is that true??
Thanks.
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