Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination ControlFood TypeChemicalMicrobiologicalSeafood

Nordic Countries Work Toward Common Approach to Seaweed Food Safety

nori up close

Credit: Markus Winkler (markuswinkler) via Unsplash

January 24, 2023

A joint Nordic project, which kicked off in 2020 with the goal of developing a common Nordic approach to seaweed food safety risk management, has recently concluded with a report that focuses on the chemical and microbiological hazards associated with the commodity. The report was written by food safety regulatory representatives from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.

According to the report, seaweed is the biggest aquaculture product in the world, yet there are still no international standards on food safety, such as Codex Alimentarius standards or guidelines. The EU is also lacking specific legislation on food safety for seaweed, and little is known about the commodity’s potential risks and benefits to human health. Therefore, the present project aimed to establish a common Nordic approach to seaweed food safety, taking into consideration European and global differences in tradition, food culture, production methods, seawater quality, and types of seaweed species used.

The most crucial food hazards relevant for seaweed harvested in the Nordic countries are iodine, cadmium, and inorganic arsenic. Iodine is an essential micronutrient, but both insufficient and excessive intake may pose health problems. Some food products based on seaweed contain very high levels of iodine, which is why iodine is classified as a hazard in the report. Other important food hazards identified in the report are lead and mercury, Bacillus in heat-treated products, kainic acid in dulse (sea lettuce flakes), and allergens.

Regarding iodine and heavy metals, levels can vary greatly between and within seaweed species, and can be affected by age, growing conditions, and processing methods. In general, throughout the Nordic countries, brown algae have the highest iodine content, with the highest levels found in the species sugar kelp, winged kelp, oarweed, and tangle. Red and green algae species have lower levels of iodine than the brown algae, except for the red algae wrack siphon weed. Oarweed can have exceptionally high levels of inorganic arsenic, while cadmium levels are highest in several brown and red algae.

The authors of the report strongly recommend the development of harmonized food safety legislation on seaweed, for which there is none currently within the EU. In such legislation, seaweed should be classified as a specific group of food, with subgroups for different seaweed species. More knowledge is required, but the Nordic report can serve as a guideline both for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and industry.

KEYWORDS: Nordic countries novel foods seaweed study

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Contamination Control
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Management
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    International
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

smoked salmon in oil

Study Shows Food Type Significantly Affects Listeria’s Ability to Survive Digestion, Cause Sickness

straight-on view of u.s. capitol hill

Bill Reintroduced to Congress Would Require FDA to Systematically Reassess Food Chemicals

FSM podcast

Ep. 197. Jatin Patel: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Handling a Recall

Events

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and Global Insights

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • digital illustration of a globe growing off a branch like fruit

    FAO Illustrates Approach to Ensuring Food Safety While Moving Toward Circular Agri-Food Systems

    See More
  • farmland in the pennsylvania countryside

    FDA, Pennsylvania Enter Partnership to Work Toward Domestic Mutual Reliance, Integrated Food Safety System

    See More
  • The Most Common Food Safety Incidents Related to Developing Countries

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9781498721776.jpg

    Handbook of Food Processing: Food Safety, Quality, and Manufacturing Processes

  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1119071127.jpg

    Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking

See More Products

Related Directories

  • StateFoodSafety

×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing