FAQ

Wild Irish moss, also known as sea moss, is a red algae that grows in the North Atlantic Ocean's intertidal zone:

• Appearance Irish moss has thin, fan-like fronds and comes in many colors, from greenish-yellow to dark purple.
• Habitat It grows in tide pools and inlets along the coastlines of Europe, North America, and the British Isles. 
• Harvesting Irish moss is harvested for its mineral content. Real Irish Moss has over 90% of the daily minerals our body needs.
• Uses Irish moss is used as a healthy super supplement and is often used to create a gel which can be taken daily by spoon or in your favorite smoothie. Many people also love using the gel as a hair and skin strengthener and exfoliant.
• Nutrition Irish moss is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, iron, vitamin A, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and iodine. It's also low in calories, fat, and sugar. 
• Health benefits Irish moss has many health benefits, including supporting thyroid health, improving gut health, and promoting heart health. This super food has been used by wellness communities for generations and is becoming a popular staple in households worldwide.

Wild Irish Moss AKA (Chondrus Crispus) is a specific kind of sea moss which has gained notoriety for its supreme mineral content. However the sea moss which is commonly found online is generally not what it's said to be..

Real Irish Moss has a purple fan like shape and is found in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.

When shopping online you will commonly find gold moss with tentacle shapes or long hair like strands. This is not Irish Moss and is generally whats known as Gracilaria.

Gracilaria has health benefits however it does not meet the standard of Chondrus Crispus. It has higher mucoid volume, and often will have a pungent sea bed taste and smell.

Real Irish Moss is nutrient dense, has less mucoid volume, and will taste very plain if not slightly sweet smelling.

Our Wild Irish Moss will generally make 24oz of gel from just 1 ounce of raw moss!

We suggest a tablespoon of gel daily which means that 1 ounce will supply up to 48 daily servings!

1 ounce raw = 24 ounce gel

24 ounce gel = 48 tablespoons

Making sea moss gel is very easy and cheaper than buying it pre-made.

Simply soak the cleaned sea moss in spring water or alkaline ionized water for 12-48 hours. Pour off the water and place the sea moss into a blender.

Add more water and blend until smooth.

Next, pour into a jar with a lid and refrigerate. It will turn into a more gel-like texture as it sits. That’s it!!

You now have fresh, powerhouse sea moss gel ready for consumption!

Our Wild Irish Moss does not! Many people report disliking the taste and smell of sea moss gel, this is often because the sea moss used is a cheap variety or pool grown.

This fake Irish Moss will have a pungent sea bed smell and taste. It will also have a excess of mucoid liquid.

Real Irish Moss will not have the pungent sea smell and taste. Some of our customers report noticing a sweet, almost honey like smell from the raw moss. When gel is created it should have no taste and mix well with your favorite herbs or berries!

Sea moss gel made from our Wild Irish Moss will last around 4 weeks when kept in the refrigerator.

The raw moss can last up to a year when stored in the refrigerator.

Many people will make a big batch of gel in 16oz mason jars. Simply place one in the refrigerator for consumption and the rest can be frozen for a later date!

Sea moss has spoiled if it changes color, smells sour or pungent, has a watery or slimy texture, or has mold.

Our wild Irish Moss is a mineral powerhouse! The list of minerals in sea moss is:

According to the US Department of Agriculture, a 10 g serving of sea moss contains the following 12 essential minerals in significant amounts (average content): 

• Calcium: 7.2 mg
• Copper: 0.02 mg
• Iodine: 47 µg
• Iron: 0.89 mg
• Manganese: 0.037 mg
• Magnesium: 14.4 mg
• Phosphorus: 15.7 mg
• Potassium: 6.3 mg
• Selenium: 0.07 µg
• Sodium: 6.7 mg
• Sulfur: data not found
• Zinc: 0.195 mg 

Besides, depending on the water in which sea moss has grown, it may contain traces of these 80 minerals and elements:

• Actinium
• Aluminum
• Americium
• Antimony
• Argon
• Arsenic
• Astatine
• Barium
• Berkelium
• Beryllium
• Bismuth
• Bohrium
• Boron
• Bromine
• Cadmium
• Cesium
• Californium
• Carbon
• Cerium
• Chlorine
• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Curium
• Dubnium
• Dysprosium
• Einsteinium
• Erbium
• Europium
• Fermium
• Francium
• Gadolinium
• Gallium
• Germanium
• Gold
• Hafnium
• Hassium
• Helium
• Holmium
• Hydrogen
• Indium
• Iridium
• Krypton
• Lanthanum
• Lead
• Lithium
• Lutetium
• Mercury
• Molybdenum
• Neodymium
• Neon
• Neptunium
• Nickel
• Niobium
• Nitrogen
• Osmium
• Palladium
• Platinum
• Plutonium
• Polonium
• Praseodymium
• Promethium
• Protactinium
• Radium
• Radon
• Rhenium
• Rhodium
• Rubidium
• Ruthenium
• Samarium
• Scandium
• Silicon
• Silver
• Strontium
• Tantalum
• Technetium
• Tellurium
• Terbium
• Thallium
• Thorium

Only take sea moss from a trusted source, watch out for toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, and others. So, make sure to only purchase sea moss products that have been tested for heavy metals.

Alkaline Originals only sells wildcrafted organic Irish Moss that’s been thoroughly tested and approved for safety.

We annually test our Irish Moss following each harvest season and throughout the year to ensure they're free of food pathogens and dangerous levels of naturally occurring or human origin contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum residues, and radiation. 

Why We Test

Although our sea vegetables are harvested from wild and remote reaches in the Gulf of Maine and the North Atlantic, we can’t control what the ocean currents may carry and the winds may deposit. And even though seaweeds have been safely consumed for centuries, we want to make sure this continues to be true today.

What We Test For

Microbes

Our products are regularly screened for total bacterial counts; coliform bacteria and pathogenic E. coli; foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus; and mold & yeasts. Microbial testing is done throughout the year to meet food safety requirements. In over 30 years of testing we have never detected any of the common foodborne pathogens. This is mainly because dried sea vegetables contain natural sea salts and very little moisture, making them inhospitable for bacterial growth and giving them an extended shelf life. However, like other raw natural foods, dried seaweed is not entirely sterile, and if it's rehydrated it should be kept refrigerated during and after reconstitution.  Occasionally, we get questions from customers wondering if their seaweed has mold on it.  Usually, it turns out to be precipitated salts and sugars. 

 

We periodically test for water activity and moisture in many of our sea vegetables to assess microbial viability.

Pesticides/Herbicides

Widely used in agriculture and by property owners, these compounds are of concern because they can appear as residues on foods. We use a screening protocol endorsed by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) for ensuring produce meets the ‘certified organic’ standard for pesticide and herbicide residues. This testing is done annually by us and at random by our certifying agency (OCIA); our test results are posted below as NOP panel.

Petroleum Residues

Tested as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). This screen verifies our seaweed is free of gasoline and oil combustion residues coming from surface runoff or boats. This testing is done annually and the results are posted below as PAH's.

Heavy Metals

Our labs use gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect and quantify trace levels (<1 part per million) of cadmium, lead, mercury, and inorganic forms of arsenic in our seaweed. These elements are widely distributed in the world’s oceans from both natural and human sources. This testing is done annually and the results along with more detail on heavy metals in seaweed are posted below. Test results are for a single test done on a composite sample incorporating up to eight different lots for each product/species.

Radioactivity

Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, customers became concerned that even seaweed as far away from the disaster as Maine could have become contaminated, and we’ve been annually testing ever since.  Test results can be found below. 

How We Test

Testing is done every winter after the harvest has been dried and stored. We take care to collect composite samples representative of each species, growing area, and form (leaf or milled). 

Testing is done through accredited third-party labs. It’s important to understand the nature and substance of seaweed to accurately analyze it. Our contract labs use analytical methods refined over many decades by scientists from around the world, and they're validated by the EPA, FDA and global certification organizations before being approved for food testing. We work closely with our testing labs to  remain current with the latest changes and refinements to test methods. Some of our testing labs include: Katahdin Analytical, Northeast Laboratories, Brooks Applied Labs, and eurofins.

Disclaimer

Seaweed is a traditional whole food that's been eaten by people  around the world for many thousands of years with healthy results. However, every person is unique and we are unable to predict your body's response. There may be elements of these plants not suitable for your particular biochemistry or condition. Only you can determine what's best for you, in consultation with your healthcare practitioner. The seaweeds we sell are wild harvested, uncultivated marine algae. Naturally occurring fluctuations in the sea plants occur due to season, climate, tidal flow and time of harvest. The information we present on this website is believed to be accurate and reliable, but the testing is not carried out by Alkaline Originals and it is not guaranteed as a condition of sale. Alkaline Originals makes no warranty, either express or implied, and assumes no liability for this information or the products described.

Heavy Metals in Seaweed

Customers sometimes ask why we test our Certified Organic sea vegetables for heavy metals, or why some products bear a "Proposition 65" warning about lead and cadmium.  The reason for both is that as seaweed absorbs minerals from the ocean that are essential for human health, it also absorbs certain heavy metals that can harm human health.  Testing helps both us and our customers make informed choices to safeguard health.

Minerals and elements, including heavy metals, are widely distributed throughout the world's oceans from natural processes such as weathering of the earth’s crust and atmospheric deposition, as well as from human industrial activity. Our seaweed comes from remote and wild areas far from big cities and industry, and Organic Certification ensures it isn't harvested near local sources of contamination such as boat marinas or municipal outfalls.  However, because heavy metals are so ubiquitous in the environment, Organic Certification alone doesn't guarantee purity for seaweed or any other food.

Annual testing helps us determine whether products require a California Proposition 65 warning, and posting the data on our website helps our customers make informed choices.  Scientists have studied the topic of heavy metals in seaweed for many years, and our assessment is that the numerous health and nutrition benefits of sea vegetables far outweigh the risk posed by the low levels of heavy metals they contain. However, we respect that others, for personal health reasons, may feel otherwise.  This is why we test for heavy metals.

Radioactivity Testing in Seaweed

We started testing seaweed for radioactivity in 2011 in response to the Fukushima, Japan nuclear catastrophe, and we haven't stopped since. Humans have released radiation into the environment, whether intentionally or accidentally, ever since the US first tested atomic bombs in 1945. Because eating seaweed offers some protection from radiation, it’s important to ensure the seaweed itself is free of harmful radioactive isotopes.  This topic is further addressed in our FAQs.

The lab of Professor Thomas Hess, University of Maine Department of Physics, tested our seaweed every year from 2011 to 2019.  In 2020 we moved to using a commercial lab for this testing. Test results are given as Bq per kg, which is a measure of the activity of a radioactive isotope.  Japanese standards for acceptable activity levels in food and water, which are among the strictest in the world, call for less than 100 Bq/kg in general foodstuffs and less than 10 Bq/kg in water.  The very low threshold for water is because it's essential for life, has no substitute, and has a high rate of consumption.

Don't use a Geiger Counter to Detect Radiation in Seaweed!

It is not recommended to use a Geiger counter to detect radiation in seaweed.  You will almost certainly get a positive result, but it does not necessarily indicate hazard. A natural (and harmless) radioactive isotope of potassium (K-40), found in seawater and most if not all land and sea plants, accounts for nearly all of the radioactivity observed in seaweeds. This can cause a false alarm if a Geiger counter is used to detect whether seaweed is “radioactive”. This link explains the issue in more detail:Geiger Counters and Sea Vegetables.

The following links provide additional resources for learning more about radiation. And of course, please feel free to contact us on the Contact Page with questions.

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: The ABCs of Radioactivity, Our Radioactive Ocean
• The International Atomic Energy Agency
• Information Is Beautiful: Radiation Dosage Chart

When it comes to pregnancy there are not a ton of studies done with sea moss. We have many pregnant/ breastfeeding moms who use our sea moss daily! We do believe it is safe for both!

We always recommend to do what makes you most comfortable. We also recommend checking with your doctor if you have any concerns!

We ship to every US state and territory. We do not ship anywhere else at this current time.

We only ship from our facility in San Francisco, CA. Most orders will be processed within two business days of receiving them. If you are in the continental US, you can expect to receive your order within 3 to 10 business days after processing. We'll send you an email with a tracking number on the day your package leaves our warehouse.

Please note that holidays or weather may affect shipping times.

CANCELLATIONS AND ORDER CHANGES

Cancellations must be made within 24 hours of the original order.

If you need to change your order, you can create a second order and we'll cancel the original one.

Alternatively, you can contact us and we'll edit the original order and send you a link to update your payment.

WHERE'S MY PACKAGE? 

Please understand once an item is shipped, it is the responsibility of the carrier to deliver packages on time and without damage.

• Please be patient and track your package.
• If tracking information shows the package was delivered but you do not have it, check with neighbors and your local carrier before contacting us.
• If the package cannot be located, a minimum of 15 days must have passed (from expected delivery date) before we can consider a refund, reship or file a claim.
• We cannot file a claim until enough time has passed, you've contacted your carrier, then you've contacted us, and we've contacted the carrier, and they declare the package is truly lost.

WHAT CARRIERS DO YOU USE?

We ship UPS or USPS at our discretion, offering both package tracking and reliable delivery.

We MUST have a street address to ship UPS

PO Boxes default ship to USPS.

Please email us a note, including your name and order number, if your location requires one type of shipping

Our staff strives to make your purchase experience satisfactory. Should any of the following problems arise, contact us within 30 days of purchase (USA only).

For defective packaging, incorrectly shipped product (because we're human and do occasionally make mistakes), you will receive a full refund (shipping expense included if applicable), to your credit card or original payment method.

For damaged in transit product (the box is clearly in bad shape). If you did not refuse delivery; then take pictures, keep the packaging and contact the appropriate shipper. Once an item is shipped it is the responsibility of the USPS or UPS to deliver on time and without damage. Please review USPS or UPS shipping policy.

We cannot accept a return for an opened bag of product and will only consider refunds or exchanges on a case by case basis.

Other: based on the situation you may receive a refund for the cost of the product only.

• We do not accept returns or offer refunds based on customer personal preference.
• You must contact us within 30 days of purchase.
• Please do not return product packages without authorization.
• Return shipment costs are the responsibility of the customer. 

For Alkaline Original products not purchased directly from us, please return those to the location originally purchased.