Tracing the Geographical Origin of Raw, Boiled and Salted, and Dried Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) using Trace Element Compositions Resistant to Manufacturing Processes

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of manufacturing on the trace element composition of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), we evaluated changes in the composition of 12 trace elements (Mg, P, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Cd, and Ba) in raw, boiled and salted, and dried wakame from wakame processing factories in Sanriku, Naruto, China, and South Korea. Results indicated that the V, As, Cd, and Ba contents of the wakame samples investigated were relatively resistant to the manufacturing processes. Moreover, we established a discriminant model using the contents of these elements to trace the geographical origin of wakame products in Japan. Furthermore, the As, Cd, and Ba contents were selected by the forward selection method. Using this model, wakame samples from Sanriku, Naruto, China, and South Korea were successfully identified at 100, 100, 90, and 90%, respectively.