Skip to content
SupplyList
Menu

Fucoidan

Fucoidan suppliers and sourcing guide

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide, rich in the sugar fucose, found in the cell walls of brown seaweeds such as bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), kombu (Saccharina japonica) and mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus). It is extracted with water or dilute acid, purified by filtration or precipitation, and dried to a tan to off-white powder. Brands buy it by seaweed source and fucoidan purity, which ranges from crude extracts to high-purity grades.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Fucoidin · Sulfated fucan · Fucus vesiculosus extract · Undaria pinnatifida extract · CAS 9072-19-9
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of fucoidan

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Fucus vesiculosus fucoidan

    Extract from bladderwrack, sold at stated purity levels.

  • Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan

    Extract from wakame sporophylls, with a different sugar and sulfate profile.

  • Mozuku and kombu fucoidan

    Extracts from Cladosiphon or Saccharina, common in Asian supply.

  • High-purity grades

    Purified extracts with low salt, iodine and polyphenol content.

  • Organic

    Extracts from certified organic seaweed harvests.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Fucoidan purity
Fucoidan content by the supplier's method, often fucose and sulfate by colorimetric assays or HPLC; ask which method is used before comparing suppliers.
Iodine
Iodine content, which can be high in seaweed extracts and affects labeling and daily intake.
Heavy metals and inorganic arsenic
Lead, cadmium, mercury and total and inorganic arsenic by ICP-MS and speciation, since seaweeds take up metals.
Moisture
Loss on drying; fucoidan powders are hygroscopic.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella, against the supplier specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store sealed in a cool, dry place; fucoidan absorbs moisture and can cake. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier's specification.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the seaweed species, harvest region, purity, iodine and arsenic results for each lot, since these change with species, season and location. Rotate first-expiry-first-out.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 565 for fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida, notified by Marinova Pty. Ltd. for use at up to 30 milligrams per serving in foods including baked goods, soups and snacks; it closed in 2015 with FDA having no questions.

    Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • GRN 661, for fucoidan concentrate from Fucus vesiculosus from the same notifier, closed on February 10, 2017 with FDA having no questions.

    Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists fucoidan as an extract with source materials including Ascophyllum nodosum, Cladosiphon okamuranus, Fucus vesiculosus, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Undaria pinnatifida covers fucoidan extract from Undaria pinnatifida and records member state use as foodstuffs and food supplements.

    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.

Fucoidan suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking fucoidan suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell fucoidan? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of fucoidan can brands buy?

Common forms include fucus vesiculosus fucoidan, undaria pinnatifida fucoidan, mozuku and kombu fucoidan, high-purity grades and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for fucoidan include?

Expect fucoidan purity, iodine, heavy metals and inorganic arsenic, moisture and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should fucoidan be stored?

Store sealed in a cool, dry place; fucoidan absorbs moisture and can cake. Shelf life and retest date come from the supplier's specification.

What is the regulatory status of fucoidan?

FDA's GRAS Notice Inventory lists GRN 565 for fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida, notified by Marinova Pty. Ltd. for use at up to 30 milligrams per serving in foods including baked goods, soups and snacks; it closed in 2015 with FDA having no questions. GRN 661, for fucoidan concentrate from Fucus vesiculosus from the same notifier, closed on February 10, 2017 with FDA having no questions. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists fucoidan as an extract with source materials including Ascophyllum nodosum, Cladosiphon okamuranus, Fucus vesiculosus, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida. The EU Novel Food Catalogue entry for Undaria pinnatifida covers fucoidan extract from Undaria pinnatifida and records member state use as foodstuffs and food supplements.

More specialty nutrients

All 77 specialty nutrients

Sell ingredients to brands?

Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.

Request a listing