How polluted is algae?
Heavy metals and high iodine levels found in dried algae
To improve the data on the general pollution situation of dried seaweed, various seaweeds were tested for heavy metals and elements in the 2023 monitoring program.
Ten percent of the samples contained lead levels above 0.4 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), cadmium levels above 3.3 mg/kg and copper levels above 8.52 mg/kg. The arsenic content also exceeded the value of 37.6 mg/kg in ten percent of the algae samples examined. These values were therefore only slightly lower than in an earlier monitoring in 2018.
"Compared to the 2018 study, the values determined are still too high," criticizes Dr. Andrea Luger, Head of the Food Safety Department at the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety(BVL). As seaweed is becoming increasingly popular, especially as an ingredient in sushi, salads, soups and vegetable dishes, these products should continue to be the focus of food monitoring.
Of the 82 algae samples tested, 75 samples had an iodine content of over 20 milligrams of iodine per kilogram of dry matter. If the iodine content of dried algae exceeds this value, a warning is required stating that an excessive intake of iodine can lead to thyroid dysfunction. In addition, information must be provided on the iodine content and the maximum amount to be consumed. The required warning was missing from 10 of these 75 samples.
"The high iodine content in many samples and the lack of a consumption warning in almost every seventh sample of the affected products is not a situation with which we can be satisfied," Dr. Luger makes clear. Correct and clear labeling is needed here and further steps must be taken to reduce the iodine content.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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