NOW Foods Kelp Powder Organic 8 oz.

What it is

NOW Foods Organic Kelp Powder is a loose seaweed powder in an 8 oz. (227 g) bottle, with a serving size of one level scoop weighing 90 mg. The powder is milled from whole-plant organic kelp, Laminaria spp., and the bottle's own category band files it under Botanicals/Herbs. A serving scoop is enclosed — the front of the bottle says so — and on this product the scoop is doing real work, for a reason the panel makes plain below.

What's inside

The Supplement Facts panel on this bottle carries two rows, and both of them describe the same 90 mg of seaweed. The first row names a nutrient: Iodine (elemental), 450 mcg, from 90 mg of organic kelp. The second names the botanical itself: Organic Kelp (Laminaria spp.) (Whole Plant), 90 mg, marked with a dagger that the panel's footnote explains as "Daily Value not established."

The two rows are not a duplication. One quantity of powder is being declared twice over, once as the mineral it yields and once as the plant it is, and only the mineral has a Daily Value to be measured against. The useful consequence for a reader is that the ratio sits right there on the label: 450 mcg of iodine out of 90 mg of dried seaweed. Iodine occurs naturally in seawater, and the brown seaweeds take it up from the water around them — which is the whole reason a dose of this powder is weighed in milligrams.

The panel prints that 450 mcg as 300% of the Daily Value. The panel's own two numbers fix the reference amount between them: 450 divided by three gives the 150 mcg Daily Value the percentage is calculated against. Below the facts box, the "Other ingredients" line reads, in full: None.

Kelp is a large, leafy member of the brown algae family. It anchors itself to the seabed and grows in dense underwater stands in cold coastal water, and it reaches the table long before it reaches a supplement bottle — it has been eaten as an everyday ingredient in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. The NIH keeps general background on botanical dietary supplements and NCCIH maintains a plain-language herbs at a glance reference; neither page refers to this product.

Supplement Facts

The servings figure reconciles exactly against the net weight: 227 g of powder divided into 90 mg scoops gives about 2,522 of them.

How to use it

The label's Suggested Usage reads: take 1 level scoop daily, preferably with a meal. For adult use only. The enclosed scoop is the practical half of that instruction — 90 mg is a quantity most kitchens have no way to weigh, so the serving is defined by the scoop that ships inside the bottle rather than by a spoon from the drawer.

Store in a cool, dry place after opening. The bottle also notes that natural color variation may occur in this product, which is ordinary for a milled whole plant. The bottle itself is made from 100% PCR — post-consumer recycled — resin, a line printed beside the storage instruction.

Who it's for

This is a product for adults who want kelp in loose powder form rather than as a capsule or tablet. The format is the whole proposition: the serving is measured with the enclosed scoop and can be stirred into food or a drink, which also means the amount can be seen rather than taken on trust. It will suit someone comfortable handling a scoop and a bottle of loose powder. Our Herbs & Botanicals and Supplements sections list the other forms we carry.

Good to know

The bottle carries a caution block, and it is specific enough to quote. For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication (especially thyroid medications), taking other iodine supplements, or have a medical condition (especially any thyroid disorder). Keep out of reach of children. That warning about combining iodine supplements and the panel's 300% figure are printed on the same bottle, and they are best read together.

The allergen statement is printed in full: not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. The front of the bottle is marked Vegetarian/Vegan and carries a USDA Organic seal, and the panel adds "Certified Organic by QAI." A GMP Quality Assured roundel is printed on the panel itself, and the panel records that the product is packaged by NOW Foods of Bloomingdale, Illinois, and packaged and quality tested in the USA. NCCIH publishes general guidance on supplement safety that is not specific to this item.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much iodine is in one scoop?

One level scoop contains 450 mcg of elemental iodine, which the Supplement Facts panel prints as 300% of the Daily Value. That iodine comes from the 90 mg of organic kelp the same scoop holds — the panel lists the mineral and the seaweed as two rows describing one quantity of powder.

Does the bottle include a scoop?

Yes — the front of the bottle states that a serving scoop is enclosed. The scoop defines the serving, since the label's serving size is one level scoop of 90 mg rather than a spoon measure.

Is there anything in it besides kelp?

No — the "Other ingredients" line on the Supplement Facts panel reads "None." The powder is milled whole-plant organic kelp, Laminaria spp., and the bottle is sold by weight rather than by volume.

How many servings does the 8 oz. bottle hold?

The panel states about 2,522 servings. That figure is printed on the label, and it follows from the net weight and the serving size — 227 g divided into 90 mg scoops.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain, unmarked outer packaging. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.