Because it comes from seaweed, alginate is vegan. Sodium alginate is a favourite in modern cooking for spherification, the technique that turns a juice into pearls with a liquid centre, and it is widely used to bind and shape reformed foods, including vegan seafood.
Carrageenan (E407)Carrageenan is a thickener pulled from red seaweed. It has its critics on other grounds, but the vegan question is not one of them.
Agar (agar-agar, E406)Agar is the vegan answer to gelatin, a firm jelly set from seaweed. It has been doing this job in Asian kitchens for a very long time.
Konjac (glucomannan, E425)Konjac is a plant whose root fibre becomes shirataki noodles and wobbly jelly. Root to noodle, it is entirely plant-based.
Frequently asked
Is sodium alginate vegan?
Yes. Sodium alginate is made from brown seaweed, so it is plant-based and vegan.
What is alginate used for?
Thickening, gelling, and spherification, plus binding reformed foods. It is a seaweed extract and vegan.
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