Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012Show full title

E 407 CARRAGEENAN U.K.

Synonyms	Products of commerce are sold under different names such as: Irish moss gelose; Eucheuman (from Eucheuma spp.); Iridophycan (from Iridaea spp.); Hypnean (from Hypnea spp.); Furcellaran or Danish agar (from Furcellaria fastigiata); Carrageenan (from Chondrus and Gigartina spp.)
Definition	Carrageenan is obtained by extraction with water or dilute aqueous alkali of strains of seaweeds of Gigartinaceae, Solieriaceae, Hypneaceae and Furcellariaceae, families of the class Rhodophyceae (red seaweeds). Carrageenan consists chiefly of the potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium sulphate esters of galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose polysacharide. These hexoses are alternately linked α-1,3 and β-1,4 in the copolymer. The prevalent polysaccharides in carrageenan are designated as kappa, iota, lambda depending on the number of sulphate by repeating unit (i.e. 1,2,3 sulphate). Between kappa and iota there is a continuum of intermediate compositions differing in number of sulphates per repeat units between 1 and 2. During the process, no organic precipitant shall be used other than methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol. The wording carrageenan is reserved for the non hydrolysed or otherwise chemically degraded polymer. Formaldehyde may be present as an adventitious impurity up to a maximum of 5 mg/kg.
Einecs	232-524-2
Chemical name	Sulphate esters of polygalactose
Chemical formula
Molecular weight
Assay
Description	Yellowish to colourless, coarse to fine powder which is practically odourless
Identification
Test for galactose	Passes test
Test for anhydrogalactose	Passes test
Test for sulphate	Passes test
Solubility	Soluble in hot water; insoluble in alcohol for a 1,5 % dilution
Purity
Solvent residues	Not more than 0,1 % of methanol, ethanol, propan-2-ol, singly or in combination
Viscosity	Not less than 5 mPa.s (1,5 % solution at 75 °C)
Loss on drying	Not more than 12 % (105 °C, 4 hours)
Sulphates	Not less than 15 % and not more than 40 % on the dried basis (as SO4)
Ash	Not less than 15 % and not more than 40 % determined on the dried basis at 550 °C
Acid-insoluble ash	Not more than 1 % on the dried basis (insoluble in 10 % hydrochloric acid)
Acid-insoluble matter	Not more than 2 % on the dried basis (insoluble in 1 % v/v sulphuric acid)
Low molecular weight carrageenan (Molecular weight fraction below 50 kDa)	Not more than 5 %
Arsenic	Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead	Not more than 5 mg/kg
Mercury	Not more than 1 mg/kg
Cadmium	Not more than 2 mg/kg
Microbiological criteria
Total plate count	Not more than 5 000 colonies per gram
Yeast and moulds	Not more than 300 colonies per gram
Escherichia coli	Absent in 5 g
Salmonella spp.	Absent in 10 g