Algae is a green ocean plant used as a food and an additive. A variety of modern products contain algae. Chances are you eat algae every day without realizing it. Algae is used to thicken foods and boost healthy bacteria. It is also added to many medicines and toothpaste. According to the University of California at Los Angeles, a type of algae called carrageenan is commonly added to dairy products to give them a denser consistency. The most common algae containing products are sour cream, chocolate milk and cheese. The Hawaii Department of Education says algae is often added to liquids to make them thicker. For example, algae is put in shakes and malts to thicken them. It is also added to mayonnaise to prevent it from becoming runny. The green paper-like substance used to wrap sushi rolls is algae. This is a special "leafy" variety of algae grown on farms in Asia and shipped throughout the world. The leafy algae is grown on strings then dried in the sun. This types of algae is especially high in vitamins and nutrients. Gelatin contains a type of algae called agar. It can solidify just about anything that comes in a liquid form. Agar was first used in China in the 17th century and is now found in hundreds of foods sold in grocery stores, such as pie crusts, pumpkin pie filling and flavored gelatin. While toothpaste is not a food, it is a safely eatable substance that contains algae. Without algae, toothpaste would be a runny liquid. Algae makes toothpaste into a semi-solid that then dissolves with the brushing action of cleaning teeth. YUMMY!!
18 Comments
Tyler
5/18/2017 04:21:09 pm
I love sushi!🍤
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Zane
5/18/2017 04:23:28 pm
Dats cool
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Caden
5/18/2017 06:31:49 pm
All those pictures made me hungry
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Sofia
5/18/2017 07:55:33 pm
Ewwwww, Usually I love all types of food, but as soon as I learn they are chicken hearts, or raw fish, or ALGAE I get kinda grossed out. So, from this post, certain types of algae do different things. Agar is used to solidify things that are liquids, Carageenan is used to give a thicker consistency to foods and every time I eat sushi I'm actually eating algae.
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deja
5/18/2017 09:08:33 pm
wow eeewww
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jenna
5/19/2017 07:19:59 am
i love chocolate milk
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Paige
5/19/2017 07:35:12 am
I agree with Jenna, also I am glad I hate sushi.
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Tabitha
5/19/2017 07:49:07 am
I ,wow algae is in chocolate milk.
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Zaya
5/19/2017 08:01:59 am
Sushi is soooo good!!!
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Addie J
5/19/2017 04:38:40 pm
I have never tried sushi...
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Katelyn Ashton
5/21/2017 07:45:23 pm
That is gross and cool. I looked at the strawberry I was molding and it's got these web like stuff on it. My mom thinks it's gross.
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jenna
5/22/2017 07:11:58 am
ive never tried sushi my sisters husband said i should try it. now he is taking me sometime this summer
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Kailee
5/22/2017 07:15:44 am
Wow cool
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Zaya
5/22/2017 07:40:40 am
That's cool and kinda gross knowing that's the food we eat...and it contains algae..
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Stephanie
5/22/2017 07:42:40 am
I didn't know that we use algae for shakes and even toothpaste... that's cool
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brady
5/22/2017 07:43:21 am
Wow! This is really gross. I don't like Sushi, so, I guess I don't like Algae! YAY! All y'all sushi lovers are disgusting. :)
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5/10/2022 06:01:26 am
I very much appreciate it. Thank you for this excellent article. Keep posting!
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |