Seaweeds are abundant along European coastlines.

Seaweeds are abundant along European coastlines and contain both mineral and organic forms of iodine. Researchers want to prepare seaweed as a substitute for the traditional iodide or iodate used in iodized salts. There is a need to combat iodine deficiency in European and tropical countries. A red (Gracilaria verrucosa) and a brown (Laminaria hyperborea) seaweed were selected for further study, based on preliminary results. The former contains mostly organic iodine while the latter has particularly high inorganic iodine levels without an accompanying high content of heavy metals. A new blending process was developed to overcome segregation and separation of the seaweed meal and the salt. The stability of the iodine in the seaweed-salt mix was similar to that of classical iodine or iodate after 180 days storage under European storage conditions. However, there was a loss of iodine--both seaweed and classical types--during storage under tropical conditions (high humidity) in the absence of water-impermeable packaging. Contact: P. Marchal, Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues (CEVA), Presquaele de pen Lan, BP 2, 22610 Pleubian, France. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail].