Foods Containing E407 (Carrageenan)
E407 (Carrageenan) is a seaweed extract used to thicken and gel foods — vegan and approved, but with ongoing gut-health debate. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E407
E407 is used across sauces, soups, desserts, jams, plant milks and dairy alternatives. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Plant milks
- Ice cream
- Desserts and jellies
- Processed meats
- Toothpaste
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E407 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E407" or as "Carrageenan".
How to spot E407 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "thickeners and gelling agents: E407" or "thickeners and gelling agents: carrageenan". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Carrageenan" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E407?
E407 is approved for use in the EU, UK and US at regulated levels, but some concerns or conditions apply. For most people, normal dietary exposure to E407 is not considered harmful.
Full guide to E407: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).