You must be picky about your heavy cream if you wish to avoid carrageenan. Heavy cream, like several other dairy products, often contains the controversial food additive.
Below we provided you with a list of heavy cream products without carrageenan. We hope you find it useful to help you live carrageenan-free if that is a goal for you!
Be sure to check the ingredients at the store before you purchase any of the brands listed since ingredients can change at any time. The ingredients on the label will be the most accurate and up-to-date.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that carrageenan be listed in the ingredients so you’ll know if a heavy cream contains it by simply reviewing what’s in it.
Carrageenan-Free Heavy Cream
The heavy cream products you see in the table below were carrageenan-free at the time of this article. These are popular heavy cream products that can be purchased at major grocery stores. Several are simply made with just quality cream.
Generally, most organic heavy cream products are carrageenan-free whereas most regular heavy creams contain carrageenan. However, there are exceptions so you should never assume a heavy cream does not have carrageenan.
| Heavy Cream | Carrageenan (Yes or No?) | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| AE Dairy | No | Grade A Cream |
| Alexandre Family Farms – Organic A2/A2 Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Cream |
| 365 by Whole Foods – Organic Heavy Cream | No | Organic Cream, Organic Milk, Gellan Gum |
| Central Market Organics – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Grade A Cream, Gellan Gum |
| Clover Sonoma – Organic Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Cream |
| Good & Gather – Organic Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Grade A Cream, Gellan Gum |
| Guernsey Farms – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Cream |
| HEB – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Heavy Cream, Milk, Gellan Gum |
| Horizon Organic – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Grade A Cream , Gellan Gum |
| Kalona Super Natural – Organic Whipping Cream | No | Organic Cream |
| Meadow Gold – 36% Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Heavy Cream |
| Member’s Mark – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Cream, Gellan Gum |
| O Organics – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Cream, Gellan Gum |
| Organic Valley – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Grade A Cream |
| Sprouts – Organic Heavy Cream | No | Organic Heavy Whipping Cream |
| Simple Truth Organic | No | Organic Cream, Gellan Gum |
| Straus Family Creamery – Organic Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Pasteurized Organic Cream |
| Stonyfield Organic – Heavy Whipping Cream | No | Organic Grade A Cream, Disodium Phosphate, Gellan Gum |
Potential Carrageenan Side Effects
Carrageenan has several potential side effects that are concerning for some people. However, there certainly needs to be additional research completed for clarity on the impact of carrageenan on the body.
These are the possible side effects of consuming carrageenan as determined by the sources listed at the end of this article:
- Bloating
- Inflammation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD)
- Colon Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Glucose Intolerance
- Insulin resistance
- Immune Suppression
- Fetal Toxicity
- Birth Defects
- Ulceration in Large Intestine
While the above list is likely not exhaustive, it hits on the significant potential concerns with consuming carrageenan. Currently, the FDA considers carrageenan “generally recognized as safe” as long as it is used as intended in foods. Of course, that could change as we learn more about the controversial food additive.
Ultimately, it is up to you whether or not to consume heavy cream or other products with carrageenan. There are plenty of heavy creams without carrageenan so there certainly are options assuming price and availability are not issues.
Sources:
Barrell, A. (2018, September 19). Is carrageenan safe to eat?. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323117
Ruggeri, C. (2023, April 9). Is Carrageenan Bad for Your Health? What Are Safer Alternatives?. Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/what-is-carrageenan/