Djanna F. Cornagoa, Rowena Grace O. Rumbaoa-Sanchezb, Marco Nemesio E. Montañoc*
aPhilippine Trade Training Center, Department of Trade and Industry
bDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Economics
University of the Philippines Diliman
cNational Academy of Science and Technology Philippines
doi.org/10.57043/transnastphl.2019.1956
ABSTRACT
Carrageenan, a non-agricultural, non-synthetic substance derived from certain red seaweeds and allowed as ingredient in organic foods, is one of the main export products of the Philippines. However, the country’s carrageenan export, particularly to the United States, has declined due to several attempts to remove it from the National List of Allowed Substances under the Organic Foods Production Act of the United States of America. This paper presents information from two technical papers submitted by the Philippine government to the US Department of Agriculture to address concerns raised by the US National Organic Coalition regarding the health and environmental impacts of carrageenan use and production and to establish that there are no suitable alternatives to carrageenan in its use in organic food products. It aims to emphasize the need to keep carrageenan on the list of allowed substances in organic foods.
*Corresponding author: mnemontano@msi.upd.edu.ph