Kelp
Kelp is the trade name for large brown seaweeds, chiefly Laminaria and Saccharina species, along with Macrocystis and Ascophyllum, harvested wild or farmed in cold coastal waters. The fronds are washed, dried and ground to granules or powder. Brands buy it as a seasoning and salt replacer, as a natural iodine source, and as powdered kelp for capsules and tablets.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried, ground fronds sold by mesh size and by declared iodine content.
Coarser grinds for seasonings and salt blends.
Kelp blended or tested to a stated iodine content per gram for supplement use.
Seaweed from certified organic harvest areas or farms, with the certificate tied to the lot.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Keep kelp sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry place, away from light and strong odors. It is hygroscopic and cakes in humid air. Shelf life or retest date follows the supplier's specification; iodine is usually retested before using material past it.
Iodine and arsenic vary by species, harvest site and season, so each lot needs its own assay and finished-product iodine should be calculated from the lot actually used. Record species, origin and harvest date at receiving.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.365 permits kelp, defined as the dehydrated, ground product of Macrocystis pyrifera and named Laminaria species, as a food additive source of iodine, within daily iodine intake limits set in the section.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 184.1120 affirms brown algae, including Laminaria digitata and Laminaria japonica, as GRAS for use as a flavor enhancer and flavor adjuvant in spices, seasonings and flavorings.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Kelp Products natural health product monograph lists Laminaria digitata, Saccharina japonica, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, using the whole thallus.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (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.
Distributor · Sacramento, CA
Starwest Botanicals is a Sacramento company that mills and sells bulk organic herbs, spices, teas and botanical powders by the pound and in 25 lb bags, with wholesale accounts for businesses.
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 kelp powder, granules and flakes, iodine-standardized kelp and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect identity, iodine, heavy metals, microbiology and moisture and ash, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Keep kelp sealed in lined bags or drums in a cool, dry place, away from light and strong odors. It is hygroscopic and cakes in humid air. Shelf life or retest date follows the supplier's specification; iodine is usually retested before using material past it.
21 CFR 172.365 permits kelp, defined as the dehydrated, ground product of Macrocystis pyrifera and named Laminaria species, as a food additive source of iodine, within daily iodine intake limits set in the section. 21 CFR 184.1120 affirms brown algae, including Laminaria digitata and Laminaria japonica, as GRAS for use as a flavor enhancer and flavor adjuvant in spices, seasonings and flavorings. Health Canada's Kelp Products natural health product monograph lists Laminaria digitata, Saccharina japonica, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus, using the whole thallus.
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