Got Algae?
Algae
What do
these
items all
have in
common?
Algae
They are all made
of seaweed!
Seaweeds are
large marine
algae that grow
on the coastal
waters of many
countries.
Algae
• They include
thousands of species
from microscopic
organisms called
phytoplankton to
huge
floating/anchored
organisms commonly
seen washed up on
shore. Scientists now
classify these algae
as protists.
Algae
• Many kinds of
seaweed are edible
and rich in vitamins
and iodine. Asian
cultures use
seaweed like green
beans and carrots
are used in the
United States.
Algae
• Algae contains great
nutritional value and are
used in many cultures to
wrap vegetables, rice, or
raw fish (sushi).
• You can obtain algae to
eat from a health or
ethnic food store. They
may include nori,
kombu, kelp, and dulse.
Algae
• Americans have not
developed a taste for
seaweed, so
manufacturers use
derivatives from
seaweed instead.
Seaweed derivatives
include:
carrageenan
alginates
carrageenan
beta carotene
beta carotene
alginate
Algae
• These
derivatives act
as stabilizers,
thickeners, and
colorants in the
foods Americans
eat today.
Algae
• The three main
groups of
seaweeds are
brown, red, and
green algae. Each
provides important
ingredients for
manufacturing
foods.
Algae
• Alginates come
from brown algae.
They make waterbased products
thicker, creamier,
and more stable
over extreme
differences in
temperature, pH,
and time.
Algae
• Some products
containing
alginates are
brownie mix,
whipped topping,
relishes, salad
dressings, sauces,
and gravies.
Algae
• Carrageenan is
extracted from
certain types of red
algae. It is used in
stabilizing and gelling
foods cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals, an
industrial products.
Algae
• Some products
containing
carrageenan are
chocolate milk,
coffee creamer,
yogurt, ice cream,
pudding,
toothpaste, and
sour cream.
Algae
• Beta carotene is a
natural coloring
pigment derived from
green algae. It is
used as a yelloworange food coloring
and may help
prevent certain types
of cancers
Algae
• Some products
made with beta
carotene are
multiple vitamins,
cheese, egg
substitute, ice
cream,
margarine,
mayonnaise,
whipped topping.
Algae
• The many products
listed here are only
a small portion of
the many products
derived from
seaweed.
• This is another
reason to protect
Earth’s oceans!