E406: Agar
Main role: gelling
Also listed as: agar-agar, agar gum
What is E406 (Agar)?
Agar is a gelling polysaccharide preparation obtained from certain red seaweeds. It produces gels with different melting and setting behavior from gelatin. That difference is useful in food design but also means an agar recipe often needs a different preparation method.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is gelling. Texture ingredients help a recipe control thickness, binding, or separation. Their behavior depends on temperature, acidity, concentration, and other ingredients; two thickeners with similar names may not perform identically.
Food and formulation examples
- Jellies
- Desserts
- Plant-based gels
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E406, E 406, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include agar-agar, agar gum. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
Agar is seaweed-derived, while gelatin is animal-derived. The finished food still needs a full ingredient check before being considered vegan, and agar is not a direct one-for-one recipe replacement for gelatin.
Is E406 safe?
There is no meaningful personal risk estimate from an E number alone. Food-grade specifications, allowed uses, amount consumed, and individual circumstances all matter. The authorization record below gives the legal scope; it is not a claim that every possible use is appropriate.
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E406 as Agar. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.