PRECAUTIONS FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS WHEN BUYING AGAR

Agar, a phycocolloid derived from red algae, is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a gelling agent, stabilizer, thickener, and emulsifier [1, 3]. It serves as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin and is used in products ranging from jellies and ice cream to baked goods and beverages . However, before purchasing agar, manufacturers s