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Agar

CAS 63241-81-6 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 1 other CAS number

9002-18-0

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

Agar in plain language

What it is

Also known as Agar-agar · Unspecified agar · Gelose · Gracilaria gracilis polysaccharides · Japan agar · Layor carang

Show all 30 names

Plocamium cartilagineum polysaccharides · Agar (gelidium cartilagineum) · Agar (gracilaria confervoides) · Agar (gracilaria gracilis) · Agar gum · Bengal isinglass · Ceylon isinglass · Chinese isinglass · Gracilaria confervoides polysaccharide · Seaweed, agar, dried · Seaweed, agar, raw · Agar (gelidium spp.) · Granulated agar · Nutrient agar · Shredded agar · Agar Agar Flake · Agargel · Agaropectin, mixt. with agarose · Agarose, mixt. with agaropectin · E-406 · Gelidium cartilagineum polysaccharides · Ins NO.406 · INS-406 · agar (powder)

What it does

Used in cosmetics as a binder, a thickener and a fragrance ingredient.

  • Binding
  • Viscosity controlling
  • Fragrance
  • Thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer
  • Emulsifier
  • Thickener
Is it a concern?
Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 172 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Medical/dental, Personal care.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Agar appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Beauty
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substance2 entries
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as structurallydiverse.Source →
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as mixture.Source →
  • EUCosIngActiveAgar
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinionSafety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of agar for pets and non-food-producing animals (Hispanagar) (EFSA FEEDAP)
    • Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of agar for pets and non-food-producing animals (Hispanagar) (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
  • GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
  • GLOBALJECFANOT LIMITEDJECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT LIMITED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.
    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT LIMITED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 172 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Medical/dental, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Deodorizer, Viscosity modifier, Binder.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 172 composition records across product categories including Laboratory supplies, Medical/dental, Personal care. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Deodorizer, Viscosity modifier, Binder.Source →
  • USFDAinactive ingredient databaseRoute: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 0.2 mg
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 0.2 mgSource →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of agar for pets and non-food-producing animals (Hispanagar) (EFSA FEEDAP)

      2022 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

  • JECFA

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

    • JECFA evaluation record.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

    • JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT LIMITED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.

      Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Agar yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

8 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated october 29, 2012

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • WHO JECFA Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →
Reference links (1)
Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Agar in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

172

Named organisations

6

Laboratory suppliesMedical/dentalPersonal care

Typical roles

BindingViscosity controllingFragranceThickener, emulsifier, stabilizerEmulsifierThickener
See products using Agar →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Agar; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 48 →Find products without it →