Dulse
Dulse is Palmaria palmata, a red seaweed that grows on rocky shores of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It is hand harvested at low tide or farmed, then air or sun dried and sold as whole leaf, flakes, granules or powder. Older regulations and texts use the name Rhodymenia palmata for the same alga.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried fronds for snacking, cooking and further processing.
Dried dulse cut to a size grade for seasonings and toppings.
Finely milled dulse for capsules, seasonings and blends.
Dulse harvested from areas certified under an organic standard for seaweed, with the certificate tied to the lot.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep dried dulse in sealed, moisture-proof packaging in a cool, dry area away from light; it absorbs moisture readily, softens and can mold. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and moisture and appearance are rechecked on older stock.
Iodine and metal levels change with harvest location and season, so record harvest area and date and the iodine and metals results for every lot. Avoid blending lots with very different iodine values without recalculating the label.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 184.1121 affirms red algae, including Rhodymenia palmata, as GRAS when dried and ground or chopped for use in spices, seasonings and flavorings at levels not exceeding current good manufacturing practice.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)The same section requires the ingredient to meet the Food Chemicals Codex kelp specification, except for a loss on drying of not more than 20 percent and a maximum iodine level of 0.05 percent.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Palmaria palmata (POL-NF-00564) lists Rhodymenia palmata among its synonyms and lists the whole alga as not novel in food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Distributor · Eugene, OR
Mountain Rose Herbs is an Oregon seller of organic and wild-harvested bulk herbs, spices, mushrooms and seaweeds, with a wholesale program for businesses alongside its retail shop.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include whole leaf, flakes and granules, powder and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity, iodine, heavy metals, moisture, microbiology and foreign matter, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep dried dulse in sealed, moisture-proof packaging in a cool, dry area away from light; it absorbs moisture readily, softens and can mold. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and moisture and appearance are rechecked on older stock.
21 CFR 184.1121 affirms red algae, including Rhodymenia palmata, as GRAS when dried and ground or chopped for use in spices, seasonings and flavorings at levels not exceeding current good manufacturing practice. The same section requires the ingredient to meet the Food Chemicals Codex kelp specification, except for a loss on drying of not more than 20 percent and a maximum iodine level of 0.05 percent. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Palmaria palmata (POL-NF-00564) lists Rhodymenia palmata among its synonyms and lists the whole alga as not novel in food.
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