Uses
Desserts, ice cream, milk shakes, sauces gel to increase viscosity
Beer clarifier to remove haze-causing proteins
Pâtés and processed meat Substitute fat to increase water retention and increase volume
Toothpaste stabilizer to prevent constituents separating
Fire fighting foam thickener to cause foam to become sticky
Shampoo and cosmetic creams thickener
Air freshener gels
Marbling -- the ancient art of paper and fabric marbling uses a carrageenan mixuture to float paints or inks upon; the paper or fabric is then laid on it, absorbing the colors.
Shoe polish gel to increase viscosity
Biotechnology gel to immobilize cells/enzymes
Pharmaceuticals used as an inactive excipient in pills/tablets
Carrageenan has also been used to thicken skim milk, in an attempt to emulate the consistency of whole milk. This usage did not become popular. It's used in some brands of soy milk
Diet sodas
Lambda carrageenan is used in animal models of inflammation used to test analgesics, because dilute carrageenan solution (1-2%) injected subcutaneously causes swelling and pain.
Sexual lubricant and microbicide
Laboratory studies suggest that carrageenans might function as topical microbicides, blocking sexually transmitted viruses such as HPV and herpes, though not HIV
