Irish moss is a species of red seaweed that flourishes along the rocky terrain of the European Atlantic coastline. Although it is named after the Isle of Green, it is also commonly found along the coasts of Britain, Spain, Iceland, Canada and Japan. The algae is also known as carrageen moss, taken from the Celtic carraigín, which translates to "little rock." Because Irish moss is so rich in a certain polysaccharide called carrageenan, it is widely used as a thickening agent, stabilizer and lubricant in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.