What Is The Purpose Of Agar-Agar In Cat Food?

Agar-agar may not evoke images of whole foods such as turkey or sweet potato, but it serves a useful purpose in your cat’s food. As devoted cat owners, we make every effort to keep harmful or unnecessary fillers out of the food dish. To help you make an informed decision about this food additive, we discuss the origin, purpose, and safety of agar-agar in cat food.
So, what role does agar-agar play in cat food? Agar-agar, derived from red algae, safely adds a palatable texture to canned cat food through its gelling properties. It is not the same as carrageenan and has no negative effects in wet cat food. Although agar-agar is used for constipation and weight loss, its health benefits for cats are unknown.

What exactly is Agar-agar?

Commercially, the red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria are cultivated for agar-agar production. Agar-agar is derived from these species’ cell walls and is made up of two polysaccharides: agarose and agaropectin. Agarose is responsible for the gelling properties. Gracilaria requires an alkaline pretreatment to remove sulfates and improve gelability.

This colloidal polysaccharide is used in human and pet foods all over the world as a gelling agent, stabilizer, and thickener. Agar-agar is considered safe to consume as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other food regulatory agencies around the world. It is also used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and scientific research.
You’ve probably had agar-agar in some form or another, whether you’re a vegan or a steak lover. Since its discovery in Japan in the 17th century, agar-agar has been used for its gelling properties. This odorless and tasteless additive is widely used in jellies, puddings, cream cheese, yogurt, pie fillings, soft candies, baked goods, and canned meat products throughout the world. Agar-agar is halal, kosher, gluten-free, and vegan, and it can be used in place of animal-derived gelatins.

What Is the Origin of Agar-Agar?

Gelidium is harvested in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Japan, and Mexico, whereas Gracilaria is commercially grown in South America, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
In the summer, red algae is harvested, dried, bleached, and boiled to extract the agar. Before packing, the agar goes through final processing steps. Agar-agar comes in four different forms: strips, bars, flakes, and powders. Although agar-agar is natural, the alkalinizing pretreatment of the Gracilaria species technically classifies it as synthetic.

People’s Health Claims

Agar-agar has been promoted as a health supplement, and is frequently mixed with hot tea or water. This “Kanten diet” is said to promote weight loss in Japan by creating a feeling of satiety as it bulks up when consumed. It is also used as a laxative, though if not taken with plenty of water, it can cause esophageal and bowel obstruction.
None of these health claims have been scientifically proven. There have been anecdotal reports of owners successfully administering small amounts of agar-agar mixed with water to their cats as a laxative, but these benefits have not been proven, and a veterinarian can recommend many safe and natural alternatives for constipated cats.

Cat Food Containing Agar-Agar

Agar-agar produces a desirable gel consistency in canned cat foods, but it is much less common in dry cat food brands. There are no proven health benefits or risks. Given the anecdotal impact in people, owners may avoid this ingredient for underweight cats or those with easily obstructed bowels, but there is no evidence that cats experience accelerated satiety. Bowel obstruction has also not been reported in cats after consuming agar-agar in cat food.
Carrageenan, a food additive derived from a red seaweed known as Irish moss, is a different product with safety concerns. Consumers are occasionally perplexed by the terms agar-agar and carrageenan.

In conclusion

Agar-agar is a safe food additive that is used in a variety of products around the world, including canned cat food. Although it is commercially processed, there have been no pet food recalls due to agar-agar and no known adverse effects. There are no proven health benefits as well. Agar-agar creates a palatable consistency in wet cat foods and can be used in place of non-vegan gelatins.

source https://babypetdaily.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-agar-agar-in-cat-food/