Microbial and Heavy Metal Analyses of Commercially Available Sea Moss and Sea Moss Products
Rejuso A, Çobo M, Curran JE, Wang R, Humiston G, Worobo R, et al.
Published in J Food Prot, Vol. 89 (11), pp. 100915
Methodology
Laboratory survey of 66 sea moss products bought from major US online retailers (53 dried products, 13 gels): water activity, pH, degrees Brix, microbial counts with molecular identification of selected isolates, and heavy metals.
Key Findings
Mean total plate counts were 4.30 log CFU/g in dried sea moss and 3.92 in gels. Presumptive Bacillus and Staphylococcus were recovered from both product types; presumptive Escherichia, Salmonella, Listeria and Vibrio less often. Sequenced isolates included Salmonella, Cronobacter and Escherichia. Arsenic, cobalt and mercury were detected in dried sea moss; in gels arsenic and cobalt were below detection limits and mercury was at trace levels. Gel pH ranged from 2.71 to 7.05.
Conclusions
Commercial sea moss varies widely in microbial and physicochemical quality, and evidence-based guidance on processing, storage and handling is needed.
Limitations
Snapshot of US online products; the abstract reports detection rather than metal concentrations against safety limits; many identifications were presumptive; no health outcomes were measured.
Supplements Studied
evaluated 66 sea moss products purchased from major online retailers
Study Details
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