Work

Assessment of Juniper Ash Elemental Composition for Potential Use in a Traditional Indigenous Dietary Pattern

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ash made from juniper trees and added to cornmeal-based dishes may have provided calcium to traditional Indigenous diets. Few studies have quantified the mineral content of juniper ash. The objective of this study was to determine whether ash made from juniper trees native to North Dakota could serve as a safe source of non-dairy calcium in the diet. Branches from two varieties of Juniper were harvested from two locations in North Dakota and burned to ash in a laboratory setting. Juniper ash from the southwestern U.S. available for retail purchase was used for comparison. All samples were tested for content of 10 nutritive elements and 20 non-nutritive elements as well as residues from n=576 pesticides. Each teaspoon of ash contained an average of 445 ± 141 mg calcium. All samples contained both non-nutritive and toxic elements. The samples contained lead in amounts ranging from 1.09 ppm to 15 ppm. None of the juniper ash samples contained detectable pesticide residues. Information on the nutritive and non-nutritive elemental content of juniper ash and how it may interact within a food matrix is insufficient to determine its safety as an addition to food within contemporary standards.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu18020260

Authors: Julie M. Hess, Madeline E. Comeau, Derek Bussan, Kyra M. Schwartz Jessen, Claudia PromSchmidt

Institution: University of North Dakota

Language: English

Topic: Food and Agricultural Sciences

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499