Why some healthy seaweed snacks can be dangerous
Microalgae toxins in food products and impact on human health: a review
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Microcystins survive boiling and cooking — so even cooked algae supplements or shellfish can still be toxic.
Most people assume cooking kills all dangers in food, but these toxins are heat-stable and chemically resilient.
Practical Takeaways
Look for third-party tested Spirulina/Chlorella supplements with certificates for microcystin and saxitoxin screening (e.g., NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab).
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Microcystins survive boiling and cooking — so even cooked algae supplements or shellfish can still be toxic.
Most people assume cooking kills all dangers in food, but these toxins are heat-stable and chemically resilient.
Practical Takeaways
Look for third-party tested Spirulina/Chlorella supplements with certificates for microcystin and saxitoxin screening (e.g., NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab).
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2025
Authors
Minaxi Sharma, C. Loong, Teo, W. A. T. N. Withana, D. Gunarathna, D. Dissanayake, A. Rathnayake, H. K. S. de Zoysa, V. Waisundara
Related Content
Claims (7)
Some tiny ocean algae make a poison that tricks your brain cells into over-firing, which can scramble your memory and even cause seizures or death.
Toxins from certain blue-green algae in water can survive boiling and damage the liver over time, potentially causing cancer.
Certain sea algae make a poison that gets into shellfish and can stop your muscles from working, including those you need to breathe — which can be deadly.
Even though people take algae supplements for health, they can sometimes be polluted with dangerous toxins from other algae that grow with them, which can hurt the liver.
Shellfish like mussels and oysters soak up toxins from algae in the water, and even when the algae aren’t visible, eating these shellfish can still make people sick.