# What are some products that contain algae? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264 "2005-03-07T00:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![potatoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/potatoes)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/1 "2005-03-07T00:01:27Z")
Ok, I need to find some labels for products that contain algae. So far all I know is pudding and toothpaste. What are some others? ---
**Author:** ![potatoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/potatoes)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/2 "2005-03-07T00:02:37Z")
And, also, what are the names of the algae? ---
**Author:** ![SiouxChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@SiouxChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiouxChief)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/3 "2005-03-07T00:21:21Z")
IANAMB, but [agar](http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=agar) is used for some gelatin products, such as, uhm, gelatin. Gummi worms would be another application for gelatin, but I don’t know any brands that are made with agar as opposed to beef-gelatin. I’ll bet you’ll find a host of algae-based food products in a health-food store, such as _ **Wild Oats** _. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/4 "2005-03-07T00:27:29Z")
Alga used in food: Spirulina, Chlorella, Kelp, Fucus. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/5 "2005-03-07T00:48:31Z")
Look for carageenen in the ingredients list … it’s everywhere! ---
**Author:** ![Nunavut\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e95f7d/32.png) [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/6 "2005-03-07T00:51:47Z")
The gelling agent in microbiology agar (used for culturing bacteria) is derived from red algae. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/7 "2005-03-07T00:52:41Z")
Here’s a [picture of a package of laver](http://www.seaveg.com/laver.html) which is a red alga (_Porphyra_ sp.). It’s closely related to what’s known as “nori” in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![potatoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/potatoes)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/8 "2005-03-07T01:37:50Z")
Would propylene glycol alginate count as an ingredient that is algae? ---
**Author:** ![potatoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/potatoes)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/9 "2005-03-07T01:49:06Z")
Ah, I’m good, I got all I needed: Coffee Mate, Nutri Grain Yogurt Bars, ice cream, Jell-O Instant Pudding, and evaporated milk, all that have carrageenan. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/10 "2005-03-07T03:18:23Z")
[General Jack D. Ripper] Ice cream, Mandrake… _children’s ice cream_! [/Gen. Ripper] [/Strangelove] ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/11 "2005-03-07T03:35:22Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > [General Jack D. Ripper] > > Ice cream, Mandrake… _children’s ice cream_! > > [/Gen. Ripper] > [/Strangelove] [Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake] Oh, hell. Are the Russians involved, sir? [/Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake] [/Strangelove] ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/12 "2005-03-07T10:21:06Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Alga used in food: Spirulina, Chlorella, Kelp, Fucus. Spirulina is a bacterium, not an algae. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/13 "2005-03-07T12:25:37Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > Spirulina is a bacterium, not an algae. [No it’s not…](http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Spirulinacs.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/14 "2005-03-07T12:50:04Z")
Hmmm… some sources seem to be saying that Spirulina is blue-green alga, others say it is a filamentous cyanobacterium. Can we have the Straight Dope please? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/15 "2005-03-07T14:01:02Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Can we have the Straight Dope please? Nomenclature wars: [A molecular test of cyanobacterial phylogeny: inferences from constraint analyses](http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:8EihPPa4AXMJ:zoology.unh.edu/faculty/litvaitis/pdf/litvaitis2002.pdf+cyanobacteria+algae+nomenclature+site:.edu&hl=en&client=firefox-a) (2002) The correct answer depends on when and where you went to school, and probably what yor major was. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/16 "2005-03-07T14:15:34Z")
It’s both. “Algae” is a term that does not reflect relatedness between its members (a classic polyphyletic grouping for you taxonomists out there), rather algae refers to the form and function of its members. That way, cyanobacteria get to be bacteria based on their evolutionary relationships, and algae based on their lifestyle. For example, here’s one definition of algae: > [@](#): > > A diverse group of marine plants ranging for unicellular planktonic species to large benthic seaweeds; all lack true roots, stems, and leaves, and none produce flowers and seeds. From _Biological Oceanography_, by Carol Lalli and Timothy Parsons. [Here’s another](http://tolweb.org/accessory/Algae:_Protists_with_Chloroplasts?acc_id=52) definition. Ironically, this one seems to completely exclude plants. [Gen. Ripper] Mandrake, the redcoats are coming! [/Ripper] ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/17 "2005-03-08T13:03:57Z")
Spirulina is a cyanobacterium. These were once commonly referred to as blue-green algae but then koalas were once referred to as bears. The fact is that they are prokaryotes and lack a nucleus., They sure aren’t algae or plants. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/18 "2005-03-08T13:13:31Z")
Ah, I realized where I made my mistake of certainty. I was vaguely remembering my freshman biology course (of 13 years ago) and mixed up Spirulina with [Spirogyra](http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art98/spirog.html). ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/19 "2005-03-08T13:43:43Z")
> [@potatoes](#): > > Would propylene glycol alginate count as an ingredient that is algae? it is indeed derivaed from algae but chemically modified. The master speaks [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_223a.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_223a.html) ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-products-that-contain-algae/293264/20 "2005-03-09T15:41:01Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > The fact is that they are prokaryotes and lack a nucleus., They sure aren’t algae or plants. There’s no reason algae can’t be prokaryotes.