carragheen

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carragheen (carrageenan) A complex polysaccharide obtained from certain red seaweeds (Rhodophyceae), especially from Chondrus crispus (Irish moss) and Gigartina species. Carragheen has a number of commercial uses as a stabilizer in paints, pharmaceutical products, and various types of food such as sauces and creams. (The term ‘carragheen’, but not ‘carrageenan’, may also be used to refer to the seaweed Chondrus crispus itself.)

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