Agency advises against eating hijiki seaweed

Wednesday 28 July 2004

Ref: R938 - 28

The Food Standards Agency is advising people not to eat a particular type of seaweed, hijiki, following a survey that showed that it contains high levels of a form of arsenic which is known to add to the risk of people getting cancer.

The Agency did this survey to see if there was a problem with certain types of seaweed on sale in the UK, following similar findings and action taken by the Canadian authorities.

The Agency is advising people not to eat hijiki seaweed and to choose alternative types of seaweed instead. If you have eaten hijiki seaweed occasionally you will probably not have significantly increased your risk of getting cancer, but cutting out hijiki is sensible. The type of arsenic found in the hijiki samples was not detected in any of the four other types of seaweed that the Agency tested. Hijiki is distinctive, being almost black in colour with a shredded appearance.

International experts say that the intake of this type of naturally occurring arsenic (inorganic arsenic) in food should be reduced so that it is as low as is practical. The Agency's expert advisers, the Committee on Toxicity, have said that the levels of inorganic arsenic found in hijiki would add significantly to people's exposure to the chemical.

The Agency will now be raising the possibility of action over the sale of hijiki seaweed with the European Commission. The Canadian authorities have already issued advice to avoid consumption of hijiki.

Hijiki is a variety of seaweed harvested mainly from the seas off Japan and Korea. It is used mainly as an appetiser or starter in some Japanese and Korean restaurants, but not in sushi. If anyone is concerned about whether their starter contains hijiki they should check with the restaurant. This variety of seaweed is not used in Chinese restaurants.

Hijiki is sold in shops for use in soups and salads and vegetarian or vegan dishes where seaweed is an ingredient. Hijiki can sometimes be found in the specialist food sections of some supermarkets and department stores, and also in health food shops and retail outlets selling products from Asia and the Far East. If people are concerned that hijiki may be contained in any other food products, they should check the ingredients label.

Notes to Editors
1. Further information about the survey, an information sheet and the answers to possible questions about hijiki can be found on this website.