Can one trust the testing of kelp? What levels of toxic metals are allowed? Even a level normally allowed for food might be much too high for those already toxic with heavy metals. If a batch tests too high, is it just mixed with another batch that is lower to bring the level of toxic minerals to just below the cutoff point? Perhaps it is just best to avoid seaweed completely? Since iodine is available as potassium iodide, there is no need to take kelp as a source of iodine. Seaweed does seem like it could be a good detoxifier, however how can one know that a specific batch of seaweed is really safe? After reading articles about a woman who got arsenic poisoning from taking 2 kelp pills a day then increasing the dosage to 4 a day, and a study that showed that 8 out of 9 brands of kelp pills they tested all had excessive arsenic, it makes me think that seaweed may not be worth the risk.