Carrageenan moratorium
This article was originally published in November 2014
PCC has implemented a moratorium on bringing in new organic foods containing the controversial ingredient, carrageenan.
Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed and is used primarily to thicken and stabilize the texture of processed foods, such as soy milk. Independent research has found it causes intestinal inflammation and even cancer in laboratory animal studies.
Some companies, such as Organic Valley and White Wave/Silk, already are responding to concerns by reformulating foods without carrageenan.