There is no named salt brand in the research here that you can buy with a confirmed zero-microplastics result. One 2017 study found no microplastics in one of 17 commercial salt brands, but it did not identify that brand; the practical choice is to compare a seller’s current testing information before you order. Disclosure: MedClinRes.org may earn a commission from qualifying links.
What did the salt microplastics study find?
A 2017 Scientific Reports study tested 17 salt brands from eight countries. The researchers extracted particles larger than 149 micrometers and used micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify their material.
One brand had no microplastics detected by that method. The other brands contained 1 to 10 microplastics per kilogram of salt. Of 72 particles collected, 41.6% were plastic polymers; polypropylene and polyethylene were the most common. The study estimated a maximum of 37 particles per person per year from salt and described the health impact at that level as negligible. What it adds for you: salt type alone is not a guarantee, and a brand-specific, current result matters more than a broad claim about “clean” salt.
Are microplastics in table salt, sea salt, Celtic salt, and Himalayan salt?
The study above examined commercial salts, but its published summary does not name the brands or give a table for table salt, sea salt, Celtic salt, or Himalayan salt. So it cannot choose a particular Celtic or Himalayan brand for you.
Sea salt comes from saltwater, while table salt may come from several sources and is commonly refined. The research result that matters is the test result for the exact product and lot you are considering. If a brand promotes a purity claim, ask customer support for its most recent microplastics result, the method used, the reporting limit, and whether the result applies to the product currently sold.
For a separate look at sea salt and processed salt in your diet, see Sea Salt vs. Processed Salt.
How do you avoid microplastics in salt?
- Choose a salt brand that can provide a current product-specific test result.
- Ask whether the report identifies the lot or production date.
- Ask what particle sizes the laboratory could detect. The 2017 study measured particles larger than 149 micrometers.
- Compare like with like: a “not detected” result is most useful when the test method and reporting limit are stated.
- Store salt in its original closed package or another clean, sealed container.
This approach gives you a real purchasing checklist without assuming that a source label, color, or marketing phrase proves a product has no microplastics.
Which salt is non-iodized?
Non-iodized means iodine was not added to the salt. You can confirm it on the package label. A 2018 Ghana Medical Journal study indexed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine measured iodine in 11 retail salt samples, including raw-pellet salt crystallized from seawater. The raw-pellet sample had no observed iodine, while the other samples ranged from 13.7 to 75.1 ppm. What it adds: salt from seawater should not automatically be treated as an iodine source; read the label if iodine is important to you.
Salt labels can be easier to compare when you know how salt grams relate to sodium milligrams. See Salt Labels for that label-reading step.
Is sea salt healthier than regular table salt?
Sea salt and table salt are both used to season food. The microplastics study does not establish one as the healthiest choice. If your main goal is to reduce uncertainty about microplastics, choose the product whose seller can answer specific questions about the current batch rather than choosing by color, origin story, or crystal shape alone.
For iodine, packaged and open salts can differ, and storage matters. A 2023 Heliyon experimental study indexed by PubMed collected six retail salt samples—three packaged and three open—and measured iodine by iodometric titration after heat and light exposure. Heat and light lowered iodine content. What it adds: if you buy iodized salt, keep it protected from heat and light and use the label to identify whether iodine was added.
What are the negatives of Celtic salt?
Celtic salt is a sea salt, so the same practical question applies: can the seller provide a current result for the exact product? The material here does not give a Celtic-salt brand result, price, refund policy, or a direct comparison with a named table or Himalayan salt product. Before ordering, ask for the current test report and confirm whether the product is iodized if that matters to you.
Before you order salt for lower microplastic uncertainty
- Can the seller send a recent microplastics report for this exact salt?
- Does the report name the laboratory method, particle-size range, reporting limit, and lot?
- Is the salt iodized or non-iodized?
- What are the current price, shipping terms, return terms, and customer-support contact?
By MedClinRes.org Clinical Research Team