Spirulina identity begins with the declared cyanobacterial taxon and strain
FDA's GRAS inventory identifies dried Arthrospira platensis biomass as also known by Spirulina platensis, while LPSN currently treats Arthrospira platensis as a synonym of Limnospira platensis and notes strain-deposit pitfalls. Commercial naming and taxonomy can therefore diverge. Atlas retains the name as declared, nomenclatural authority and date, strain or culture identifier, supplier culture record and identification method rather than silently replacing one name or treating colour and spiral morphology as sufficient identity proof.
Wet biomass, dried biomass, powder, tablets and extracts stay separate
Harvested wet biomass contains culture water and has different stability and mass than washed or dewatered paste. Drying produces whole biomass that may be sold as flakes, granules or powder; tableting, encapsulation and formulation can add carriers or other ingredients; extraction can isolate phycocyanin-rich colour material or other fractions. FDA records whole dried biomass and enriched extract in separate GRAS notices. Atlas records the exact stage, dry-matter basis, particle size, additives, extraction yield and formulation and never transfers a whole-biomass result or price directly to an extract or finished dosage form.
Culture water, inoculum and harvest define the production record
Controlled ponds and closed photobioreactors differ from natural-lake harvests in inoculum control, exposure, mixing, nutrients, water source and contamination pathways. FDA's blue-green-algae guidance calls for examining harvest sites and testing water, harvested material, slurry and finished lots where microcystin contamination is possible; ANSES stresses water quality, inoculum selection and control of production stages. Atlas retains cultivation system and location, water and input specifications, inoculum and culture history, monitoring, harvest date, washing, dewatering, drying parameters, sanitation and lot genealogy.
Microcystins require exact-lot testing and a destination basis
Microcystins cannot be established by sight, smell or taste. FDA recommends validated testing able to address multiple variants, confirmation where appropriate, certified laboratories and a certificate of analysis for every lot or batch. ANSES cites a WHO tolerable daily intake of 0.04 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day and calls for a spirulina-supplement threshold that accounts for other dietary exposure; Health Canada records a separate finished-product daily tolerance and a one-part-per-million raw-material tolerance. Atlas keeps analytes, method, recovery, detection and quantification limits, laboratory, sample and lot, serving or use basis, result and applicable destination rule together rather than treating any one reference as a universal pass mark.
Metals, microbiology and other contaminants remain lot specific
ANSES identifies trace metal elements, cyanotoxins and bacterial contamination as relevant risks. Cultivation water, nutrients, open-air exposure, harvest, washing, drying, milling, storage and formulation can also affect pathogens, indicator organisms, foreign cyanobacteria, residues, moisture and stability. Atlas records the destination-specific specification, sampling plan, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and other required analytes, microbiological panel, pesticide or process residues, foreign matter, method, result, uncertainty, laboratory and test date for the exact lot; a supplier statement or species name does not replace testing.
Ordinary biomass, enriched preparations and intended uses can follow different rules
The European Commission's Article 4 conclusion says ordinary Arthrospira platensis is not considered novel in the EU while treating silicon-enriched spirulina as a distinct preparation with a separate regulatory issue. FDA GRN 394 addresses named conventional-food uses and levels and cautions that some uses may require color-additive authorization. Dietary supplements, conventional foods, feed, colour uses and enriched or extracted preparations can therefore require different evidence. Atlas retains destination, intended use, formulation, use level, label basis and applicable authorization rather than extending one dossier to every product or market.
Origin, processing and custody remain separate traceability fields
The strain may be maintained in one country, biomass cultivated and harvested in another, dried and milled elsewhere, then extracted, formulated or packed at further facilities. An exporter or packer address does not prove culture origin, water controls or processor identity. Atlas preserves culture and cultivation site, harvest and processing facilities and dates, lot splits and merges, drying and milling lots, extract or formulation batch, package and seal, warehouse, transporter, certificates and custody events from biomass through the offered product.
Nutrition, health, colour and sustainability claims need their own proof
Protein, pigment, vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, immune, performance or disease-related statements answer different questions and can trigger destination-specific composition, nutrition-claim, health-claim, supplement, drug or color-additive rules. ANSES also cautions that spirulina is not a reliable vitamin B12 source for people avoiding animal products because much may be an inactive analogue. Atlas does not infer health benefit, nutrient availability, organic status, low-impact production or responsible sourcing from the word natural, blue-green algae, a dark colour or a generic certificate; each claim retains its method, scope and legal basis.
A regulatory notice or safety reference does not establish delivered spirulina value
A taxonomic record, GRAS notice, contaminant tolerance or food-status conclusion does not establish current availability, composition, conformity, transaction value or delivered cost. A defensible physical assessment still needs permitted current observations for the exact taxon and strain, cultivation system, wet or dried biomass, powder, tablet, formulation or extract form, composition and lot-specific safety evidence, origin and custody, package, quantity, currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, delivery window, freight, duties and information vintage. Atlas withholds a delivered estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.