Latest reviewed evidence
The joint FAO/WHO seaweed-safety report explains that hazard presence can depend on seaweed type, physiology, season, production waters, harvest method and processing, and identifies microbiological, chemical and physical hazard lanes. EU Recommendation 2018/464 called for species-aware monitoring of arsenic, cadmium, iodine, lead and mercury in seaweed and seaweed-based products. EU Regulation 2018/848 keeps wild collection and algae cultivation separate and, for organic claims, ties them to suitable growing areas, ecosystem controls and production records. Codex CXS 323R-2017 remains a regional standard for laver products; its moisture criteria apply to defined dried, roasted and seasoned laver forms, not to every seaweed commodity. Codex work to convert the laver standard and develop a broader seaweed group standard remains in progress in 2026. None of these sources is an exact-lot certificate or live delivered quotation.
Codex first-dried laver moisture ceiling
14
percent, maximum · CXS 323R-2017 regional laver standard, 2026 register
Codex second-dried laver moisture ceiling
7
percent, maximum · CXS 323R-2017 regional laver standard, 2026 register
Codex roasted-laver moisture ceiling
5
percent, maximum · CXS 323R-2017 regional laver standard, 2026 register
Seaweed identity starts with the exact taxon and commercial group
Seaweed spans many brown, red and green macroalgae with different composition, uses and hazard profiles. Laver or nori from Porphyra and Pyropia, kombu associated with Saccharina or Laminaria, dulse from Palmaria palmata and sea lettuce from Ulva are not interchangeable identities. Atlas preserves the declared scientific taxon, commercial name, colour group, destination name and verification method rather than borrowing evidence across a generic seaweed label.
Wild collection and cultivated seaweed are separate production records
Wild harvest requires the collection area, access or harvest rights, date, method, biomass or ecosystem evidence where claimed, sanitary status and landing or first-receiver record. Cultivation requires farm or site, seed or juvenile source, production system, inputs, dates and harvest record. EU organic rules treat wild collection and cultivation separately and add site and production conditions for organic claims. Atlas does not infer an organic or sustainability status from the word wild, farmed or sea-grown.
Harvest waters and processing locations remain distinct origins
Seaweed can accumulate substances from its production environment, so the harvest-water or farm-site record remains attached through drying, milling, extraction, blending, repacking and export. A processor or export country does not silently replace biological production origin. Atlas retains site coordinates or bounded area when permitted, harvest date, water and environmental evidence, processor, transformation, lot splits and merges and custody events.
Whole, dried, roasted, powdered and extracted products are not interchangeable
Whole wet biomass, chilled or frozen material, sun- or mechanically dried pieces, sheets, roasted or seasoned laver, flakes, powders, extracts, hydrocolloids and formulated food, feed, fertilizer or industrial products have different compositions, processes and commercial specifications. Codex CXS 323R applies to defined laver products in its regional scope. Its 14, 7 and 5 percent moisture ceilings belong to specific first-dried, second-dried and roasted laver forms, not to generic seaweed.
Iodine, metals and marine hazards stay species and lot specific
FAO and WHO identify chemical, microbiological and physical hazards whose occurrence can change with species, physiology, season, waters, harvest and processing. EU Recommendation 2018/464 names arsenic, cadmium, iodine, lead and mercury for monitoring and lists multiple seaweed species and uses. Atlas records analyte and chemical form where relevant, sampling plan, preparation, method, laboratory, detection and quantification limits, result, destination rule and exact lot; it does not convert monitoring priorities into universal limits or untested compliance claims.
Processing changes evidence but does not erase provenance
Washing, blanching, soaking, drying, roasting, seasoning, milling, extraction and formulation can change moisture, contaminant concentration, microbiological risk, composition and intended use. Atlas retains input species and lot, mass balance, process conditions, additives or carriers, intermediate and final tests, package and shelf-life basis. A final-product result cannot be projected backward to every input, and a raw-material result cannot automatically qualify an extract or blend.
Standards and test results do not establish a delivered seaweed price
Identity, organic-production rules, monitoring recommendations, regional laver criteria and laboratory evidence do not establish current availability, grade, transaction value or delivered cost. A defensible estimate still needs permitted current observations for the exact species, wild or cultivated origin, site and harvest, product form, process, composition and contaminant evidence, package and lot, intended use, quantity, currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, delivery window, freight, duties and information vintage. Atlas withholds an estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.