Irish Moss

Irish Moss is the common name for Chondrus crispus, a red algae that grows on rocky Atlantic shores including the Irish coast. Articles look at the harvest of carrageen moss along the Connemara and west Cork coast, the long Irish use of the dried plant as a thickener for milk puddings and as a folk remedy for chest complaints, the modern carrageenan extracted from the same family of algae and used as a stabiliser in dairy products, ice cream and toothpaste, and the recent food industry debates over carrageenan safety. There are also notes on harvesting season.