Reviews and Information for Kelp (Kombu - Dried/Snack)
Seaweed Snacks and Foods
Seaweed snacks and dried seaweeds can be dangerous due to excessive iodine and heavy metal contamination, particularly with lead and cadmium, as our recent tests revealed. See which seaweed snacks rated best and which could not be approved.
Seaweed Snacks and Foods Review
Filters
View All
Search term may appear only in full report available to members. Join now for full access.
Product Review
Kelp Supplements Review
Choose the Best Kelp Supplement. Be Cautious With Kelp! Only 50% of Supplements Pass CL's Review.
CL Answer
Dietary Supplements and Herbs to Avoid When Breastfeeding
Find out which supplements should be avoided when breastfeeding, including medicinal herbs, soy, and flaxseed.
CL Answer
Is it true that iodine can cause acne or other skin problems?
Information on iodine causing acne and other skin problems such as rashes and hives. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.
News Release
February 09, 2022
Caution With Spirulina Supplements: ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Lead Contamination, Quality Concerns
White Plains, New York, February 9, 2022 — Problems were discovered in three out of four spirulina supplements recently tested by ConsumerLab. One product was found to be contaminated with lead, and two other products, which were tablets, failed to disintegrate within the expected time.
CL Answer
I'm interested in using Himalayan salt. What are the health benefits with it and other specialty salts? Are there contaminants in these salts?
Himalayan salt health benefits, along with other gourmet salts like Hawaiian and Mediterranean. Info including what's in them and their safety.
CL Answer
Can eating almonds reduce wrinkles or have other health benefits?
Find out if eating almonds can reduce wrinkles or improve aging skin.
CL Answer
Top 8 vitamins and nutrients for vegetarians and vegans
Find out which 8 supplements may be needed by vegetarians or vegans to meet all their daily nutrient requirements and learn ways to find supplements that do not contain ingredients objectionable to people following vegetarian or vegan diets.
CL Answer
Which vitamins and supplements are good for acne, and are there any that make it worse?
Information about supplements for acne and clearer skin. Plus, find out which vitamins and supplements can make acne worse.
Clinical Update
11/09/2021
Caution With Seaweed Salts
Seaweed salts (also known as seaweed seasoning, kelp granules, or table kelp) can be used as salt substitutes, but cooking with them may result in the formation of toxic byproducts according to a recent study. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Kelp Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
10/07/2024
Seaweed for Vegetarians
Eating a serving of nori, a type of seaweed, can improve vitamin B-12 status among vegetarians. Seaweed can also provide iodine. But there are caveats. Get the details in our Seaweed Snacks and Foods Review, which includes our Top Pick among seaweed snacks.
Also see: Top 8 vitamins and nutrients for vegetarians and vegans
Clinical Update
9/29/2023
Iodine From Seaweed
Is iodine from seaweed absorbed as well as iodine from iodine pills? Find out in the What It Does section of our Seaweed Snacks and Foods Review. Also see our Top Pick among seaweed snacks.
Clinical Update
3/26/2024
Arsenic in Edible Seaweed
A popular type of edible seaweed was found to contain very high amounts of arsenic, posing a cancer risk. See the details in our Seaweed Snacks & Foods Review. Also see what our tests of popular products showed and our Top Picks among seaweed snacks and foods.
Recalls & Warnings
June 13, 2024
Thyroid Supplement Recalled Due to Salmonella
On June 11, 2024, Penn Herb Company Ltd issued a recall of 51 bottles of Nature’s Wonderland Thyroid Formula capsules after FDA testing revealed the products to be contaminated with Salmonella.
News Release
December 20, 2021
Dangerous Amounts of Iodine, Toxic Heavy Metals Found in Some Seaweed Snacks, According to ConsumerLab Tests
White Plains, New York, December 20, 2021 — Dried or roasted seaweed has become a popular snack, providing a tasy, crunchy, and vegan-friendly source of protein, fiber, and iodine, an essential nutrient for proper thyroid function.
Clinical Update
10/25/2022
Can Foods Cause Iodine Deficiency?
A CL Member asked if foods could interfere with iodine absorption. The answer is yes, although this is not likely, as we explain in the Preventing/treating iodine deficiency section of our Kelp Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
1/28/2018
A Case of Too Much Iodine
A woman with hypothyroidism was hospitalized due to a change in mental state and physical symptoms resulting from getting too much iodine from iodine-containing supplements. For details and upper limits for iodine intake, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Kelp Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
6/14/2019
Glyphosate in Cheerios
A new report shows the amounts of the herbicide glyphosate in oat cereals, like Cheerios, and oat-based snacks. Should you be concerned? See our updated answer to the question: How concerned should I be about glyphosate in foods and supplements?
News Release
April 25, 2017
Caution with Kelp Supplements: May Contain Too Much Iodine
White Plains, New York, April 25, 2017 — Kelp supplements are promoted as a natural source of iodine, an important mineral for healthy thyroid function. But are they a good alternative to regular iodine supplements? To find out, ConsumerLab.
News Release
July 26, 2016
36% of Meal Replacement Powders and Shakes Fail ConsumerLab.com's Tests of Quality
White Plains, New York, July 26, 2016 — [Note: This review has been archived and is no longer available online. For ConsumerLab's most recent tests of meal replacement shakes, drinks and mixes, please see our Protein Powders, Shakes, and Meal Replacements Review.
Recalls & Warnings
November 23, 2022
CBD Not Permitted in Gummies, Candies, Cookies, Candy, or Pet Treats, Says FDA
On November 16, 2022, the FDA issued warning letters to five companies for selling products such as gummies, tea, cookies, lollipops, fruit snacks, hard candies, and pet treats containing cannabidiol (CBD) and/or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) as conventional food products.
Recalls & Warnings
June 30, 2013
Warning Over Excessive Iodine Intake From Supplements, Including Kelp
On June 5, 2013, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) advised that children and adults, including pregnant and lactating women, consume no more than 500 mcg of iodine daily from iodine and kelp supplements.
Recalls & Warnings
March 06, 2018
Protein Bars Recalled Due to Undeclared Allergens
On March 5, 2018, IDLife, LLC, issued a recall of their Protein Bars, Snack Bars, and Kids Bars because they may contain undeclared almonds, peanuts, and/or coconut oil.
Recalls & Warnings
June 15, 2016
More Nutrition Bars Recalled Due to Listeria Risk
The following nutrition bars are being recalled because they contain sunflower kernels or may have come in contact with equipment processing sunflower kernels which have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (use the links below for affected lot numbers, UPC, and/or ...
Recalls & Warnings
January 24, 2009
Many Brands of Nutrition Bars Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Due to salmonella contamination in peanut butter produced by Peanut Corporation of America, manufacturers of nutrition and snack bars made with this material have recently issued voluntary recalls.
Recalls & Warnings
April 04, 2012
Maker of Protein Drinks and Supplements Warned of Manufacturing Violations
The FDA published a Warning Letter to Protica, Inc., a maker of protein drinks and supplements, regarding violations of manufacturing regulations discovered during inspection of its facility in Whitehall, PA. Affected products include the foods Amped Up-2oz, Fireball-2oz, Healthy Shot-2.
