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Microplastics in Sea Salt – You Need to Know That

This is how microplastics get into sea salt

Sea salt is a natural product. It is mined in salt marshes on the coasts of the Atlantic, the Pacific, or the Mediterranean and the inland seas. Mostly it is not refined. However, it is increasingly contaminated with particles of microplastics.

  • Microplastics are parts made of different plastic compounds that are smaller than 5 millimeters. This is why it is difficult for you to detect microplastics with the naked eye.
  • The plastic particles come from different sources. The cosmetics industry uses microplastics in shower gels, peelings, masks, and toothpaste – these are so-called primary microparticles. They get into the environment via sewage.
  • However, most of the microplastics in the waters and oceans of the world come from plastic waste disposed of there, which is decomposed by the sun, wind, and friction. This results in so-called secondary microplastic particles. These plastic particles are very stable, at best they decrease in size, but they decompose only very slowly.
  • Frightening: A supply of microplastics seems to be taken care of. A total of 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year.
  • Through evaporation and the interplay of sun and wind, the sea salt is crystallized, including microplastics that previously swam in the seawater.
  • According to studies by various research groups, the level of microplastics in sea salt depends on the pollution of the respective coastal area. There are obviously big differences: In Indonesian salt, there were on average almost 14,000 units per kilo of salt, in European and US salt only 0-140 particles.
  • Especially with Fleur de Sel – a fine and mild salt – sometimes more microplastics were discovered than in ordinary sea salt. The reason: The “salt flower” is raked off from the upper layers of the saltwater pool and the plastic particles also float up there.

Minimize microplastics on the plate

In total, an average adult with 10 grams of salt per day could swallow around 2,000 microplastic particles per year, but many more if the wrong choice of salt is made. The health effects of microplastics on the human body have not yet been adequately researched.

  • However, it is suspected that the finest microparticles, in particular, remain in the body and could therefore be a cause of inflammation.
  • Harmful substances such as heavy metals can adhere to microplastics. These could get into the organism more often. BPA (bisphenol A) could also accumulate in the body in this way. This substance has a disruptive effect on natural hormonal regulation mechanisms.
  • In the case of children, those with a weakened immune system, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should ensure that as few of these harmful substances as possible are allowed in their food.
  • Pay attention to the origin of the sea salt. If the information is missing, ask the manufacturer directly about the origin and analyses. Especially with Fleur de Sel it is worth asking for analysis data.
  • Sea salts from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic are currently the least contaminated with microplastics. You should avoid sea salt from Asia.
  • Some suppliers – including brands from organic retailers, for example – carry out regular checks for microplastics and also pay close attention to uncontaminated sources of the salts.
  • If you absolutely want no microplastics in the salt, choose rock salt or simple vacuum salt, which is extracted from the depths of the earth.
  • By the way: Many herbal salts are also based on sea salt. Also, select high-quality salts here.
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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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