LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Aug 21, 2026 - The Moss Way has published independent laboratory testing for its wild Irish sea moss, providing customers with detailed information on heavy metals, microbiological safety and nutritional composition.

The testing covers lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in the company's wild-harvested Irish sea moss, Chondrus crispus, sourced from the Atlantic waters of Western Ireland.

According to the independent analysis, the tested sea moss recorded cadmium at 0.017 mg/kg, lead at below 0.2 mg/kg, mercury at below the laboratory reporting limit of 0.1 mg/kg, and total arsenic at 0.474 mg/kg.

The Moss Way has made the laboratory information available through its Science page, allowing customers to review the testing behind its products rather than relying solely on general claims about purity or sourcing.

Addressing Consumer Concerns About Heavy Metals in Sea Moss

Heavy metals are an important consideration for seaweed-based products because seaweed absorbs minerals directly from the surrounding water.

This ability is one of the reasons seaweed has such a distinctive mineral profile, but it also means responsible sourcing and laboratory testing are important.

The Moss Way says its approach is based on providing customers with measurable results.

For the tested batch, cadmium was recorded at 0.017 mg/kg compared with the applicable 3.0 mg/kg maximum level used for relevant seaweed-based food supplements.

Lead was reported at below 0.2 mg/kg against a 3.0 mg/kg maximum level.

Mercury was reported below the laboratory's reporting limit of 0.1 mg/kg. Because the test reports the result only as being below this analytical threshold, The Moss Way does not claim a more precise mercury concentration than the laboratory data establishes.

This distinction forms part of the company's wider commitment to presenting laboratory findings accurately and transparently.

The full analysis is available through The Moss Way Science page.

Understanding Arsenic in Irish Sea Moss

The published results also address one of the most commonly misunderstood subjects surrounding seaweed: arsenic.

The tested sea moss contained 0.474 mg/kg of total arsenic.

However, total arsenic should not automatically be interpreted as inorganic arsenic.

Arsenic occurs in different chemical forms. Inorganic arsenic is the form associated with the greatest health concern, while much of the arsenic naturally occurring in many edible seaweeds is present in organic forms.

Irish moss, or Chondrus crispus, is a red seaweed. Research into edible seaweeds has found that organic arsenic compounds, including arsenosugars, commonly represent the dominant forms found in many seaweed species.

The Moss Way has stated that it is pursuing further arsenic speciation testing so that the inorganic portion of the arsenic in its own material can be measured directly rather than inferred from general scientific literature.

Any additional results will be published through the company's Science page.

Testing Goes Beyond Heavy Metals

The laboratory assessment also included microbiological testing.

• Total plate count of 3,200 cfu/g, against a specification of no more than 100,000 cfu/g

• Salmonella: Negative

• Listeria monocytogenes: Negative

• E. coli: Under 20 cfu/g

• Coagulase-positive staphylococci: Under 20 cfu/g

• Moisture content of 9.2%

The company also holds nutritional analysis covering minerals, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, polyphenols and flavonoids.

Additional information about these nutrients and their role in sea moss is available through The Moss Way's health benefits resource.

Iodine Content Provides Additional Transparency

Iodine is another important consideration for consumers choosing seaweed products.

The Moss Way reports approximately 70 micrograms of iodine per serving.

Rather than treating iodine as part of the heavy metal discussion, the company provides it as a separate nutritional consideration because iodine is an essential nutrient for normal thyroid function but should still be consumed within appropriate dietary limits.

Customers with thyroid conditions, those who are pregnant, or people taking medications that can interact with iodine are encouraged to seek appropriate medical advice before adding iodine-containing supplements to their diet.

More information is available through The Moss Way's sea moss and iodine resources.

Transparency Becoming Increasingly Important in the Sea Moss Market

Growing consumer interest in sea moss has resulted in a wide variety of products entering the market, including wild-harvested sea moss, farmed sea moss, gels, powders and capsules.

However, sourcing claims alone do not reveal the concentration of contaminants in a finished ingredient.

Independent testing gives consumers additional information when comparing products and allows brands to demonstrate what is actually present in the sea moss they sell.

The Moss Way's sea moss is hand-harvested from Western Ireland.

The company says publishing laboratory results is intended to help consumers make informed decisions based on measurable evidence rather than marketing terminology.

Further information about its sourcing and harvesting process is available through the company's Our Story page.

About The Moss Way

The Moss Way specialises in wild Irish sea moss sourced from the Atlantic waters of Western Ireland.

The company focuses on traceable sourcing, independent laboratory analysis and transparency around the composition of its sea moss products.

Testing information, including contaminant analysis and nutritional profiles, is made available to customers through the company's dedicated Science resources.

For more information, visit The Moss Way or review the company's published laboratory information on its Science page.

Media Contact
Company Name: The Moss Way
Contact Person: Harry Morgan
Email: Send Email
Phone: 0333 577 7988
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://www.themossway.co.uk