The seasoning that graces our dining tables and adds flavour to our favourite dishes may be harbouring a hidden danger.

A recent study has revealed that table salt, a staple in kitchens worldwide, is allegedly contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns about the potential health risks associated with their consumption.

Researchers from Indonesia's Andalas University conducted a comprehensive study on 21 table salt brands.

The results were alarming: every single brand contained microplastics in the form of tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.

Researchers have found microplastics in table salt being sold in Indonesia. Image source: 8photo on Freepik.

The study detected up to 33 particles per kilogram of table salt.

Given the average salt consumption, this means people could be ingesting more than 1,000 microplastics annually.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than five millimetres in length.

They primarily originate from single-use plastics such as bottles and food packaging, which degrade slowly over time.

The study, published in the Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, explained that 'Salt can be contaminated by water taken from the sea to make the salt, which may contain microplastics, organic matter, and sand particles, as well as during its manufacture.'

The study focused on popular table salt brands purchased in Indonesia.

However, it's worth noting that Indonesia exports most of its sea salt to the US, Singapore, and the Czech Republic, according to global export data company Volza.

The microplastics found in the study appeared in various shapes, sizes, and colours.

'This study successfully identified four different forms of microplastics contained in all 21 salt samples, of which fragments are the most common (67.49 per cent), followed by fibres (23.82 per cent), films (6.08 per cent), and pellets (2.61 per cent) as secondary components,' the study read.

The study also found four types of polymers: polyethylene (34.62 per cent), polypropylene (30.77 per cent), polyethylene terephthalate (15.38 per cent), and polyester (3.85 per cent)

'The morphologies of microplastics show variations across different brands of salt.'

Polyethylene (PE) is a synthetic resin, while polypropylene (PP) is a strong, heat-resistant plastic.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on the other hand, can be found in clothing fibres and containers for liquid and food, while polyester is a man-made fibre material.

The tiny particles also appeared in different colours, such as black, blue, yellow, red, and transparent. However, black was the most dominant colour.

It is understood that the researchers have not shared the brand names of the salt used in the study 'to maintain privacy'.

Key Takeaways

• A study has revealed that there are up to 33 microplastics per kilogram of table salt, indicating significant consumption of these particles based on the average salt consumption.
• Researchers at Andalas University in Indonesia sampled 21 table salt brands and discovered tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.
• The microplastics found in the salt samples come in various forms, with fragments being the most common, and include several polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Although the study focused on brands from Indonesia, it raises global concerns since the country exports most of its sea salt, implying that these microplastics could be present in table salt consumed worldwide.

Members, what are your thoughts on this latest discovery? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Herbalist]

The seasoning that graces our dining tables and adds flavour to our favourite dishes may be harbouring a hidden danger.

A recent study has revealed that table salt, a staple in kitchens worldwide, is allegedly contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns about the potential health risks associated with their consumption.

Researchers from Indonesia's Andalas University conducted a comprehensive study on 21 table salt brands.

The results were alarming: every single brand contained microplastics in the form of tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.

View attachment 39338

Researchers have found microplastics in table salt being sold in Indonesia. Image source: 8photo on Freepik.

The study detected up to 33 particles per kilogram of table salt.

Given the average salt consumption, this means people could be ingesting more than 1,000 microplastics annually.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than five millimetres in length.

They primarily originate from single-use plastics such as bottles and food packaging, which degrade slowly over time.

The study, published in the Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, explained that 'Salt can be contaminated by water taken from the sea to make the salt, which may contain microplastics, organic matter, and sand particles, as well as during its manufacture.'

The study focused on popular table salt brands purchased in Indonesia.

However, it's worth noting that Indonesia exports most of its sea salt to the US, Singapore, and the Czech Republic, according to global export data company Volza.

The microplastics found in the study appeared in various shapes, sizes, and colours.

'This study successfully identified four different forms of microplastics contained in all 21 salt samples, of which fragments are the most common (67.49 per cent), followed by fibres (23.82 per cent), films (6.08 per cent), and pellets (2.61 per cent) as secondary components,' the study read.

The study also found four types of polymers: polyethylene (34.62 per cent), polypropylene (30.77 per cent), polyethylene terephthalate (15.38 per cent), and polyester (3.85 per cent)

'The morphologies of microplastics show variations across different brands of salt.'

Polyethylene (PE) is a synthetic resin, while polypropylene (PP) is a strong, heat-resistant plastic.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on the other hand, can be found in clothing fibres and containers for liquid and food, while polyester is a man-made fibre material.

The tiny particles also appeared in different colours, such as black, blue, yellow, red, and transparent. However, black was the most dominant colour.

It is understood that the researchers have not shared the brand names of the salt used in the study 'to maintain privacy'.

Key Takeaways

• A study has revealed that there are up to 33 microplastics per kilogram of table salt, indicating significant consumption of these particles based on the average salt consumption.
• Researchers at Andalas University in Indonesia sampled 21 table salt brands and discovered tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.
• The microplastics found in the salt samples come in various forms, with fragments being the most common, and include several polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Although the study focused on brands from Indonesia, it raises global concerns since the country exports most of its sea salt, implying that these microplastics could be present in table salt consumed worldwide.

Members, what are your thoughts on this latest discovery? Let us know in the comments below!

Is rock salt safe?

 

[Iggydi]

What is the point of telling us about the dangers in salt and then not tell us what brand it is. This will just make people wary on buying any salt. It is also very irresponsible of the researchers to tell us things like this but not giving us the names of the salts. They are not giving us the choice to either buy it or not. Also the other salt manufacturer's will lose sales.

 

[bluetang]

Is rock salt safe?

does rocksalt come from the sea? Pink salt is from the land

 

[Trudylee]

The seasoning that graces our dining tables and adds flavour to our favourite dishes may be harbouring a hidden danger.

A recent study has revealed that table salt, a staple in kitchens worldwide, is allegedly contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns about the potential health risks associated with their consumption.

Researchers from Indonesia's Andalas University conducted a comprehensive study on 21 table salt brands.

The results were alarming: every single brand contained microplastics in the form of tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.

View attachment 39338

Researchers have found microplastics in table salt being sold in Indonesia. Image source: 8photo on Freepik.

The study detected up to 33 particles per kilogram of table salt.

Given the average salt consumption, this means people could be ingesting more than 1,000 microplastics annually.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than five millimetres in length.

They primarily originate from single-use plastics such as bottles and food packaging, which degrade slowly over time.

The study, published in the Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, explained that 'Salt can be contaminated by water taken from the sea to make the salt, which may contain microplastics, organic matter, and sand particles, as well as during its manufacture.'

The study focused on popular table salt brands purchased in Indonesia.

However, it's worth noting that Indonesia exports most of its sea salt to the US, Singapore, and the Czech Republic, according to global export data company Volza.

The microplastics found in the study appeared in various shapes, sizes, and colours.

'This study successfully identified four different forms of microplastics contained in all 21 salt samples, of which fragments are the most common (67.49 per cent), followed by fibres (23.82 per cent), films (6.08 per cent), and pellets (2.61 per cent) as secondary components,' the study read.

The study also found four types of polymers: polyethylene (34.62 per cent), polypropylene (30.77 per cent), polyethylene terephthalate (15.38 per cent), and polyester (3.85 per cent)

'The morphologies of microplastics show variations across different brands of salt.'

Polyethylene (PE) is a synthetic resin, while polypropylene (PP) is a strong, heat-resistant plastic.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on the other hand, can be found in clothing fibres and containers for liquid and food, while polyester is a man-made fibre material.

The tiny particles also appeared in different colours, such as black, blue, yellow, red, and transparent. However, black was the most dominant colour.

It is understood that the researchers have not shared the brand names of the salt used in the study 'to maintain privacy'.

Key Takeaways

• A study has revealed that there are up to 33 microplastics per kilogram of table salt, indicating significant consumption of these particles based on the average salt consumption.
• Researchers at Andalas University in Indonesia sampled 21 table salt brands and discovered tiny fragments of plastic, fibres, films, and pellets.
• The microplastics found in the salt samples come in various forms, with fragments being the most common, and include several polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Although the study focused on brands from Indonesia, it raises global concerns since the country exports most of its sea salt, implying that these microplastics could be present in table salt consumed worldwide.

Members, what are your thoughts on this latest discovery? Let us know in the comments below!

Microplastics need to be banned worldwide ,they are in everything and have detrimental consequences for all life on this Planet

 

[Iggydi]

What is the point of telling us about the dangers in salt and then not tell us what brand it is. This will just make people wary on buying any salt. It is also very irresponsible of the researchers to tell us things like this but not giving us the names of the salts. They are not giving us the choice to either buy it or not. Also the other salt manufacturer's will lose sales.

After reading my comments, it looks like I am having a go at SDC for doing this article. I want to clarify that it was the researchers I was having a go at and not SDC for bringing this important information to us.

 

[Mrtnst]

I recall being told, when I visited the salt collection sites near Adelaide, that nearly all of the salt in Australia is sourced from their.

Which means that it is from Southern Ocean water that has a much lower load of plastic than the water of Pacific or Indian Oceans.

The vast majority of plastic in the world's oceans comes from Asia, including Indonesia.

Due to much lower regulations regarding waste handling in the region.

 

[Lolali]

What is the point of telling us about the dangers in salt and then not tell us what brand it is. This will just make people wary on buying any salt. It is also very irresponsible of the researchers to tell us things like this but not giving us the names of the salts. They are not giving us the choice to either buy it or not. Also the other salt manufacturer's will lose sales.

Cheap regular table salt, don’t even have any.
only proper sea salt.

 

[Annna]

Any chance SDC could source the brand names in the Indonesian study??

 

[Pam White]

"The study focused on popular table salt brands purchased in Indonesia".

Do we get the same salt? Why not do research on the salt used in Australia?

 

[Pam White]

"Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than five millimetres in length".

Five millimetres is half a centimetre. Surely they mean 0.5 millimetre! Or even smaller!

 

[MariaG]

Is rock salt safe?

My doctor advised me to get off sea salt and go to the Himalayan Rock salt. Apparently it is not as bad for the blood pressure. I use the pink Himalayan kind and find it acceptable.

 

[Jarred Santos]

We tried looking around but no dice re: Indonesian salt brands.

That said, I looked around some more and found that we do import salt from other countries, but not from Indonesia.

Australia is also apparently the world's largest exporter of salt, with Indonesia being the third-largest export market for the commodity.

Source: Observatory of Economic Complexity

 

[hdhensel]

Several years ago a study was done on Australian salt and it was presented on TV. Yes, there is an appreciable microplastic content in Australian salt. I alerted my very educated son of this fact and he was quite concerned. Hasn't stopped me from salting my spuds and my pasta water. If it were such a serious problem to our health surely an academic study would have been done by now to quantify the plastic, assess the type of plastics, and determine their source. Not hard to do. Would make for a good PhD topic. As an alternative, are there any grants available for an underworked scientist. Should knock this off inside a year

 

[Pattycake]

Thank goodness I don't use salt. I try to buy only salt-reduced products. I don't add salt to my cooking.