Salt is a historically significant commodity that is essential to human life. Humans have used salt for thousands of years to preserve and flavor food, and there are many modern industrial applications of salt such as de-icing roads or adding it to feedstock.
The humble table salt, usually coupled with basic ground pepper, has diversified into a variety of colors, flavors and textures; gourmet chefs and home cooks can choose from table salt, sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, kosher salt, grey salt, Fleur de Sel, and many others. More consumers have an origin-driven, farm-to-table interest in where their food comes from, and this includes a kitchen staple like salt. But with so many choices to choose from, which salt is the least intrusive to the environment and the most beneficial to humans?
What are some environmental issues with salt? This essential mineral is either mined from sodium rock deposits or obtained through solar evaporation. When you consider that sea salt is extracted from evaporated sea water, and we know ocean water contains tons of microplastics, it’s not surprising to learn that microplastics have contaminated sea salt. In one study, led by Andalas University in Indonesia, 21 undisclosed table salt brands examined under the microscope revealed microplastic fragments, fibers, films, and pellets. In another study by South Korean and Greenpeace East Asia, 90% of salt brands tested in Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia contained microplastics, with Asian brands having the highest densities, particularly Indonesian brands. While it’s no secret that microplastics have entered the food chain, controversies range widely from whether microplastics pose any real health threat to the human body to concerns they may cause inflammation, fertility issues, cancer, heart disease, and dementia.
Other sources of salt contamination can occur when industrial waste and agricultural runoff in seawater contains heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, or even microorganisms that live within the the seawater itself. Pollutants can enter salt while it’s undergoing evaporation or when anti-caking additives are added later. Contaminants also may come from packaging, processing equipment, storage facilities, or transportation, especially in high heat or humidity.
Are any varieties of salt better than others?
Table salt Common table salt is 98% sodium chloride (NaCI) and is mined from rock salt deposits. It is highly refined and processed to eliminate minerals, and anti-caking agents are usually added to facilitate free-flowing salt shakers. Potassium iodide targets global iodine deficiency and may also be added. Rock salt mining can have a negative impact on the environment when it causes deforestation, soil erosion and habitat destruction. Although salt mining is considered less dangerous than most other forms of mining, workers are exposed to potential hazards such as mine collapse, noise exposure, and air contamination.
Sea salt (as well as ocean salt or sel de mer): Depending on the body of water, including the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, or the North Sea, sea salt comes from seawater or briny lake water that is channeled into shallow ponds or marshes where sun and wind can evaporate the water naturally and leave salt behind. Because it is minimally processed, sea salt may retain traces of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc and iodine. Proponents of sea salt appreciate its pure clean flavor and believe it is healthier than table salt. But because sea salt comes from ocean waters, it may contain microplastics or other contaminants, as mentioned above. Large-scale production operations of evaporation ponds can also disrupt native wildlife and affect sanctuaries for wetland species because they create artificial ecosystems that attract certain birds but disrupt or displace local species. Several companies like Friend of the Sea have developed standards for responsible mining salt from the sea that reduces impact on the environment and maintains strict standards in sustainability.
Kosher salt can be extracted via rock mining or seawater via solar evaporation, so it has the same environmental impact as table salt or sea salt. According to Bon Appetit magazine, kosher salt does not come from religiously significant salt mines and isn’t blessed in warehouses by rabbis but got its name, historically, for koshering meat properly. Kosher salt’s larger flake size is easier to pick up and sprinkle over food, especially over large surface areas. Chefs and home cooks like using kosher salt brands like Diamond Crystal or Morton for everyday cooking as well as curing or smoking meats and pickling. Pure kosher salt is made solely of sodium chloride, has no trace minerals, is not iodized, and is entirely free of additives such as anti-clumping agents. Fans of kosher salt appreciate its coarse texture, pure, clean flavor, and lack of bitter or metallic aftertaste. People with iodine deficiencies should get iodine from iodized salt, fish, eggs, dairy, or other sources.
Himalayan pink salt (sometimes called mineral salt) is hand-extracted and processed from salt mines created from ancient bodies of water that evaporated 800 million years ago. Since this was before modern man-made pollutants existed, Himalayan salt does not contain microplastics. The Khewra Salt Mine is one of the largest and oldest salt mines in the world and is located in the Punjab region of Pakistan near the Himalayan foothills. This salt is technically a “non-renewable resource,” but the mine contains an estimated 6.7 billion tons of salt, with roughly 400,000 tons harvested annually, so it will not run out any time soon. Himalayan salt isn’t immune to contamination, however. Crudely processed, low quality varieties may contain insoluble and inedible impurities such as metal fragments, pieces of rock or stone, clay particles, and dust. Of course, any type of mining can also alter the landscape, lead to land degradation, and affect ecosystems. Mining Himalayan salt also requires energy derived from fossil fuels to mine, process, refine, transport and distribute. To offset concerns over mining for Himalayan salt, reputable manufacturers such as SaltWorks have adopted sustainable practices, including energy-efficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, rehabilitating mine land, promoting ecosystem restoration, preventing erosion, and improving water management techniques. Himalayan salt has great appeal because it is unrefined, free of additives, and contains trace minerals, especially iron, which gives the salt it’s trademark rosy hues. Himalayan salt contains less sodium than table salt and supposedly contains up to 84 minerals and trace elements found in our bodies, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, so it is thought to be a healthier alternative to table salt. Popular non-dietary uses of pink Himalayan salt include bath salts for skin conditions and muscle aches, salt lamps to remove air pollutants, and man-made salt caves to improve skin and respiratory problems. These claims are unproven scientifically but are substantiated among loyal devotees.
Which salt is better for you? Salt is important for human biological functions such as fluid balance, nerve conduction, and muscle contractions. Many medical experts recommend limiting salt from the diet because its sodium content can make the body hold excess fluid, which can increase blood pressure and cause heart disease or kidney disease. All salts contain about the same amount of sodium, but varieties like sea salt, Himalayan, and kosher salts are listed as having lower sodium content per serving because their larger grain size takes up more room on a measuring spoon.
Many people believe sea salt, Himalayan, and other types of gourmet salts that contain trace minerals are better for you than regular table salt, but the nutrients in the amounts you’d ingest may be far too small to be beneficial, and they are easily found through the consumption of regular daily food intakes. It’s probably more important to buy salt that comes from reputable sources. Check out this list for uncontaminated salt brands.
Sources and further reading:
https://www.realsimple.com/healthiest-salts-8729197
https://www.earth.com/news/table-salt-contains-a-shocking-number-of-microplastics/
https://seasalt.com/processes-and-solutions/food-safety
https://friendofthesea.org/sustainable-standards-and-certifications/sustainable-salt/#
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/different-types-of-salt
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pink- himalayan-salt#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
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