Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed-based food supplements and health foods available in the UK.

A number of seaweed-based products were analysed for total and 'reducible' arsenic and total iodine. Maximum potential intakes of the two elements were estimated using the manufacturers' recommended does. The levels of reducible arsenic found were generally low and, with one exception, ingestion of the products is unlikely to lead to the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Tolerable Daily Intake being exceeded. Iodine levels varied widely even between different samples of the same product. In a number of these cases the potential iodine intake is very high.