FAQ

Kelp is a large brown macroalgae that grows in shallow ocean waters. In the wild, kelp can form giant forests, which provide spectacular homes for hundreds of marine species. There are many different species of kelp including Winged Kelp (Alaria esculenta), Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima), which is what we use to make Kelp Jerky. 

Our kelp comes from pristine waters along the Northeast seaboard from Maine to Rhode Island. All of our kelp is harvested by our network of farmers and it is processed in Portland, ME.

Each state regulates the water that seaweed can be grown in, only allowing aquaculture for commercial use to take place in Approved/Open and Conditionally Approved areas. These areas are classified by water quality, pollution data collection, and a number of other data points. These classifications are based on shellfish standards which are the highest in the aquaculture industry, as the shellfish filter the water and are more susceptible to pollutants.

The entire industry from state regulations to the individual farmers make every attempt to farm responsibly in areas that are free from known contaminants.

Each state regulates the water that seaweed can be grown in, only allowing aquaculture for commercial use to take place in Approved/Open and Conditionally Approved areas. These areas are classified by water quality, pollution data collection, and a number of other data points. These classifications are based on shellfish standards which are the highest in the aquaculture industry, as the shellfish filter the water and are more susceptible to pollutants.

Testing for bacteria (listeria, salmonella, etc.)
Our kelp is tested for bacteria by a third party food safety company for our processor. Then our Kelp Jerky is tested again for bacteria by a third party food safety lab at our manufacturer who certifies it as food safe.

We ensure that all of our Kelp Jerky has a food safe water activity level, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. We also add apple cider vinegar to every batch of Kelp Jerky, which regulates the product's pH levels. Our food safety process is approved by a licensed Connecticut-based food lab and we follow their general safety protocols for dehydrated vegetable jerky. 

Testing for heavy metals
Heavy metals are found in our soil and in our waters and therefore appear in our products from apples to rice to kelp. Our kelp is repeatedly tested for heavy metals and the results are always food safe. 

Yes, all of our products are 100% gluten-free.

Yes, all of our products are 100% vegan.

We include nine-month “best by dates” on our Kelp Jerky because this is when Kelp Jerky starts to lose its optimal flavor. This is also subject to how Kelp Jerky is stored. We recommend storing Kelp Jerky at room temperature in an air-tight container. Storing Kelp Jerky in the fridge will dull the flavors until it’s been properly thawed to room temperature.

It is very hard for a dehydrated snack like Kelp Jerky to “go bad”. Our best by dates are really about optimal flavor.

We add very little salt to our recipes and the majority of the sodium is naturally occurring from the kelp soaking up all the nutrients in the ocean water for the 6 months it's planted.

If you're trying to watch your sodium, please ask your doctor about if seaweeds with naturally occurring ocean salts are an exception!

Kelp is very high in iodine! If you are worried about eating excess iodine, please consult your doctor before eating our products.

You're getting: 3mg of Iodine per bag of Kelp Jerky; 1mg of Iodine per Kelp Burger patty

Hey Californians! Nothing says health food like a Prop65 warning but just in case any litigious lawyers are lurking... Given the amount of organic and natural products we use in our products, it's important that we have a Prop65 warning to avoid getting sued.

"Warning: Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including cadmium, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food."

First, know that the safety of our customers is our top priority. And second, that AKUA meets all applicable federal and state food and product safety laws, and our products are manufactured according to current U.S. Good Manufacturing Practices. 

We are often asked to share our tests publicly and our legal team has repeatedly advised us against doing so. Because our company may face litigation under a California labeling law called Proposition 65, please understand that we are unable to share testing outside of our company because we consider that testing confidential and it would be related to the potential litigation. There are many private plaintiffs that use Prop65 as a vehicle to sue companies like AKUA; in fact, about 2,500 Prop65 notices are issued by plaintiffs to companies every year. Fighting these law suits have cost small businesses more than $370M in settlements since 2000. These Prop65 notices do not claim that anyone has been hurt, only that warning labels should be provided on products. It's an unfortunate fact that we live in an ever increasing litigious environment.

Many everyday foods contain listed Prop65 substances even though they are never intentionally added to any product formula. AKUA does not intentionally add any Prop65 listed chemicals to our products. Some of these chemicals, at very low levels, find their way into some foods, including some of our products because the substances are widely found in the environment. This includes the soil where plants are grown as well as the oceans. For example, lead is a substance that is often naturally or commonly found in food ingredients, because it is present in the environment where those ingredients are grown.

Lastly, we assure you that all of our products are safe and meet all applicable federal and state food and product safety laws.

We currently ship to the United States.

We will be opening up more international shipping soon.

If you're feeling hangry, email us on hello@akua.co and we'll figure out how to get Kelp Burgers and Kelp Jerky into your hands!

Because our products are perishable we can’t offer returns currently but we’d be more than happy to take care of any issues that may arise with your order. Please email us at team@akua.co and we’ll work with you to make things right!

Email us on hello@akua.co and let's chat!

In 2017, we kicked off our kelp company with the name “Beyond the Shoreline.” While it tapped into our product and overall message, we wanted something punchier and more to the point. Something that really reflected our brand personality and our team. After putting our heads together with a design agency in Boulder, CO, we became AKUA (“ah-koo-ah”).

AKUA looks and sounds like AQUA, but with a K powered by Kelp! When we dove deeper into the meaning behind the word AKUA, we were met with multiple. Nearest to our identity was that the word refers to “aquatic solutions” in the Philippines. It felt like fate! So much of what we do revolves around this, and we thought having that meaning attached to our name just felt right. In the Akan language of Ghana, AKUA means born on a Wednesday. In Japan, AKUA is a common name for women.

We’re often asked if we’re a Hawaiian company because in the Hawaiian language, our name refers to gods, goddesses, and spirits. While we fully respect the cultures of the Hawaiian people and people from all cultures that share the word AKUA, these meanings are not reflected in AKUA as our company name. Our team and mission will always strive for cultural appreciation, and function on the basis of inclusion.