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:

alginatescarrageenan

beta carotene

alginate

carrageenan

beta carotene

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 water-

based 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 yellow-

orange 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!