A white bowl of glossy chocolate pudding with a frond of red seaweed on its rim, on a white background, with the USDA Organic seal

USDA’s Organic Advisory Board Voted to Remove Carrageenan From the List of Ingredients Allowed in Organic Food

The National Organic Standards Board recommended dropping the seaweed-derived thickener at its fall meeting. USDA has the final say, and it overruled the same recommendation in 2016.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the advisory board that guides the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on organic rules, has voted to recommend removing carrageenan from the list of substances allowed in organic food. The board voted at its virtual fall meeting, held Oct. 27 to 29, according to Acres U.S.A. On Nov. 11, the law firm Keller and Heckman wrote that USDA has reportedly decided to begin drafting a proposed rule, though USDA has not announced it.

TLDR

  • Carrageenan is a seaweed-derived thickener, gelling agent and stabilizer used in dairy, plant-based alternatives and processed meats.
  • The vote is a recommendation. Carrageenan stays allowed in organic food unless USDA completes a rulemaking to remove it.
  • On Nov. 11, the law firm Keller and Heckman wrote that USDA has reportedly decided to begin drafting a proposed rule. USDA has not announced this.
  • The board made the same recommendation in 2016, and USDA kept carrageenan on the list.

What the Board Did

Every substance on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances gets a “sunset” review every five years. Carrageenan sits in the section for nonsynthetic, nonagricultural substances allowed in organic processed foods, under section 205.605 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 205.605), according to Keller and Heckman’s Daily Intake blog.

Carrageenan drew the most public comments and debate of any substance up for sunset review at the fall meeting, Acres U.S.A. reported. Commenters raised concerns about intestinal inflammation and noted that carrageenan can be used as a processing aid without appearing on the ingredient label. The Cornucopia Institute, an organic advocacy group that has pushed for removal for more than a decade, reported that several board members said the response from organic advocates affected their votes. Published coverage of the meeting did not report the vote count.

The Safety Question

Advocates for removal point to gut inflammation concerns. Regulators have reached a different conclusion so far. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Health Canada have found food-grade carrageenan safe, Keller and Heckman noted.

What Happens Next

The board’s vote does not change the rules on its own. USDA’s National Organic Program decides whether to start rulemaking. The last time the board voted for removal, in 2016, USDA overruled it and renewed carrageenan’s listing until 2023. In 2021, USDA renewed it again, until 2028.

This time, Keller and Heckman wrote on Nov. 11 that USDA has reportedly decided to move forward and draft a proposed rule to remove carrageenan from the National List. The firm noted that USDA has made no announcement.

Why It Matters

Carrageenan is used across dairy products, plant-based alternatives and processed meats. If USDA follows the board, organic makers that rely on it would likely need another thickener or stabilizer to keep those products organic. A proposed rule would open a public comment period before any change took effect.

Sources: The Daily Intake, Keller and Heckman (Nov. 11, 2026); Acres U.S.A. (Anneliese Abbott, Nov. 3, 2026); Cornucopia Institute (Nov. 1, 2026).