Heavy metals and potential risks in edible seaweed on the market in Italy.

The seaweed food has always been important in Asia, but recently increased in the Western diet. Superfood known for health benefits and rich in essential elements, can also accumulate high contents of heavy metals and iodine from the environment, becoming a health hazard. In particular for iodine, an appropriate labelling of seaweed is needed to warn the consumer of the potential risks.