8 minutes ago, Smithy said:I wonder what purpose it serves? Thickener, to help keep the broth or brine from oozing out of the chicken and into the package?
Correct. It ensures that those 15% salted chicken broth stay inside the meat, partly even in the cooked product (if you don’t overdo it).
Just as an anecdote: adding flavored liquids to meat in Germany to increase weight is not allowed, unless the product specification calls for it (as in “pickled ox tongue”). Carrageenan itself is banned in the EU.