Back on the menu? Europeans once ate seaweed, research shows

Europeans now rarely eat seaweed, but it was an important part of their diet until the late Middle Ages, archaeologists said Tuesday, calling for the eco-friendly aquatic plant to be put back on the menu. Seaweed, a healthy and sustainable source of protein, is a staple food in some Asian countries such as Japan. But it has long been shunned by traditional Western diets — with a few exceptions, such as the Welsh dish laverbread.