 600 years ago, people living along the coast of Caragin County, Ireland, started using a red algae, which became known as Irish moss, to make a jelly dessert. Now the source of caragin in a food additive used as a thickener in dairy and non-dairy products, as well as a fat substitute, perhaps most famously in the failed McLean deluxe. In 2008 I raised a concern about it. It had been known for decades that caragin had harmful effects on laboratory animals, but this was the first study done on human cells to suggest that caragin exposure may have a role in the development of human intestinal pathology. But that was all five years ago, though. What's the update? Well, after the activation of inflammatory pathways was demonstrated in actual human colon tissue samples, Europe pulled it from infant formula out of an abundance of caution. The latest suggests caragin and consumption could possibly lead to a leaky gut by disrupting the integrity of the tight junctions that form around the cells lining our intestine, which form the barrier between the outside world and our bloodstream. This was an in vitro study in a Petri dish. We still don't know what effects caragin has, if any, in whole human beings. Some researchers advise consumers to err on the side of caution and select food products without caragin and accusing the FDA of ignoring its harmful potential. Personally, after having reviewed the available evidence, I continue to view caragin in the way I view acrylamide, another potential but not proven hazard. Acrylamide is a chemical formed by cooking carbs at high temperatures, so should we avoid a lot of these foods, like the EPA suggests? Well, food safety concerns must also be considered in the context of dietary consequences. Where is it found the most? Already unhealthy foods. So sure, use your concern about the probable carcinogen acrylamide is just another reason to avoid potato chips and french fries. But until we know more, I wouldn't cut out healthful foods like whole grain bread. Similarly, I'd use potential concerns about caragin and its additional motivation to avoid unhealthy foods. But until we know more, I wouldn't cut out more healthful foods, though I would suggest those with inflammatory bowel disease or other gastrointestinal problems try cutting out caragin and at least temporarily to see if your symptoms improve.