Carrageenan only the lambda form (and the sodium salts of the other two) are soluble. When used in food products, carrageenan has the EU additive E numbers E407 or E407a when present as "processed eucheuma seaweed". Technically carrageenan is considered a dietary fibre. In parts of Scotland and Ireland, where it is known by a variety of local and native names, "Chondrus crispus" is boiled in milk and strained, before sugar and other flavourings such as vanilla, cinnamon, brandy, or whisky are added. The end-product is a kind of jelly similar to panna cotta, tapioca, or blancmange. Although carrageenans were introduced
Carrageenan There are three types of industrial processing: This is only performed using "E. cottonii" or "E. spinosum". The raw weed is first sorted and crude contaminants are removed by hand. The weed is then washed to remove salt and sand, and then cooked in hot alkali to increase the gel strength. The cooked weed is washed, dried, and milled. "E. spinosum" undergoes a much milder cooking cycle, as it dissolves quite readily. The product is called semi-refined carrageenan, Philippines natural grade, or, in the U.S., it simply falls under the common carrageenan specification. The essential difference in the refining process