Potential of metal contamination to affect the food safety of seaweed (Caulerpa spp.) cultured in coastal ponds in Sulawesi, Indonesia

•Caulerpa spp. are traditionally consumed directly as a salad vegetable in coastal areas of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.•We evaluated the metal concentrations of Caulerpa cultured in coastal ponds from a food safety perspective.•Of the metals studied only As (0.7mg/kg) and Pb (0.35mg/kg) were recorded at concentrations approaching the national food safety (BSN) limits of Indonesia (1.0 and 0.5mg/kg respectively).•There was some indication that stronger acid-sulfate soil conditions than seen in our study could lead to elevated levels of heavy metals in cultured Caulerpa.