Your salt almost certainly contains microplastics. A 2018 study published in Environmental Science & Technology -- one of the most comprehensive analyses ever conducted on salt contamination -- tested 39 salt brands sourced from 21 countries across six continents and found microplastics in 36 of 39 brands (90%). Sea salt had the highest contamination by a significant margin, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 1,674 microplastic particles per kilogram. The researchers concluded that the level of contamination directly correlated with the degree of plastic pollution in the water from which the salt was harvested.
The safest options, according to the research: Himalayan pink salt (mined from 250-million-year-old deposits, formed long before plastic existed), Redmond Real Salt (mined from an ancient seabed in Utah), and Diamond Crystal kosher salt (widely available, lower contamination than sea salt, preferred by professional chefs). Storing any salt in a glass or ceramic container rather than plastic further reduces exposure.
Below: the full research breakdown, a contamination comparison by salt type, detailed product recommendations with prices, and practical steps to reduce the microplastics you consume through salt every day.
Top 3 Lower-Microplastic Salt Choices
The Research: How Contaminated Is Your Salt?
The 2018 study, led by researchers Seung-Kyu Kim and colleagues at Incheon National University in South Korea and Greenpeace East Asia, represented the most geographically comprehensive analysis of microplastic contamination in commercial salt ever conducted. The team purchased 39 different salt brands from grocery stores in 21 countries, including the United States, China, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, India, and several others across Europe, Africa, and South America.
Each sample was dissolved, filtered, and analyzed using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) to identify and count individual microplastic particles by polymer type and size. The methodology was rigorous, with procedural blanks and contamination controls in place throughout.
The three brands that tested free of microplastics were a refined sea salt from Taiwan (which likely removed particles during heavy processing), an unrefined rock salt from China, and a refined rock salt from France. Every other brand -- across all salt types and all countries -- contained detectable microplastic particles.
The most commonly identified polymers were polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) -- the same plastics found in food packaging, plastic bags, and beverage bottles. This is consistent with the types of plastic debris most commonly found in ocean water and confirms that salt contamination is a direct downstream effect of ocean plastic pollution.
Sea salt is the most contaminated
The study found a clear hierarchy of contamination based on salt type and source. Sea salt, which is produced by evaporating ocean water or seawater, had the highest microplastic concentrations by a wide margin. This makes intuitive sense: the ocean is the ultimate sink for plastic pollution worldwide, and evaporating that water concentrates whatever particles are in it -- including microplastics.
Sea salts from Asia had the highest contamination, which the researchers attributed to the fact that Asian coastal waters -- particularly in Southeast Asia and East Asia -- have among the highest concentrations of plastic debris globally. Salts from Indonesia, for example, had the highest microplastic density of any sample in the study.
Lake salt ranked second in contamination levels. Rock salt and well salt -- both mined from underground deposits rather than sourced from surface water -- had the lowest levels of contamination. This finding was consistent across all geographic regions tested.
How many microplastics are you eating through salt?
A follow-up analysis published in 2019, drawing on the Kim et al. dataset and others, estimated the annual microplastic intake from salt for the average adult. Based on an average daily salt consumption of 5 grams (the WHO recommended maximum) and the median microplastic concentrations found across commercial salt brands, the researchers estimated that the average adult ingests approximately 2,000 microplastic particles per year through salt alone.
For people who exclusively use sea salt -- as many health-conscious consumers do, believing it to be a "natural" and healthier alternative -- the annual intake could be significantly higher. At the upper end of sea salt contamination levels found in the study, a person consuming 5 grams per day could ingest over 3,000 microplastic particles annually from salt alone.
The irony is striking: many consumers choose sea salt because they believe it is more natural. In reality, it carries the highest microplastic load of any salt type precisely because it comes from our most polluted water source -- the ocean.
It is important to note that salt is just one of many dietary sources of microplastics. Studies have also found microplastics in tap water, bottled water, beer, honey, seafood, and various other foods. Salt contributes a meaningful but not dominant share of total dietary microplastic exposure. However, it is one of the easiest sources to reduce simply by switching salt types.
Salt Types Ranked by Microplastic Contamination
Based on the 2018 Kim et al. study and subsequent research, here is how different salt types compare in terms of microplastic contamination levels. The ranking runs from highest contamination (worst) to lowest (best).
| Salt Type | Source | Contamination Level | Microplastics/kg | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea salt | Evaporated ocean water | Highest | 0 - 1,674 | Avoid |
| Lake salt | Evaporated lake water | Moderate-High | 28 - 462 | Avoid |
| Table salt (refined) | Various, heavily processed | Moderate | 0 - 204 | Acceptable |
| Rock salt | Mined from underground | Low | 0 - 148 | Good |
| Himalayan pink salt | Khewra mine, Pakistan | Very Low | Minimal | Best |
Why are rock and Himalayan salts lower in microplastics?
Rock salt and Himalayan pink salt are mined from ancient geological deposits deep underground. These salt beds formed hundreds of millions of years ago when ancient seas evaporated and were buried under layers of sediment. Because these deposits predate the invention of plastic by hundreds of millions of years, the salt itself was never exposed to plastic pollution during formation. Some contamination can still occur during mining, processing, or packaging, but the baseline levels are dramatically lower than salts harvested from modern ocean or lake water.
Recommended Salts: Lower Microplastic Options
Based on the research, here are three salt options that offer significantly lower microplastic exposure than standard sea salt. All are widely available and reasonably priced.
Himalayan Pink Salt
~$8Himalayan pink salt is mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in Punjab, Pakistan -- one of the oldest and largest salt mines in the world. The salt deposits were formed approximately 250 million years ago during the Permian era, when an ancient ocean evaporated and was buried under volcanic ash and tectonic activity. Because the deposits predate the existence of plastic by roughly 249.9 million years, the salt has had no exposure to modern plastic pollution during its formation.
Why it works
- Lowest microplastic contamination of any salt type
- Ancient geological source predates plastic pollution
- Rich mineral profile with 84 trace minerals
- Widely available in grocery stores and online
- No anti-caking agents in unrefined versions
Limitations
- Coarse grind may need a salt grinder
- Pink color can be off-putting in some dishes
- Slightly more expensive than standard table salt
- Some processing contamination still possible
Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
~$12Diamond Crystal is the kosher salt preferred by the majority of professional chefs and recipe developers. Its hollow, flaky crystal structure makes it easy to pinch and distribute evenly, and it dissolves quickly. While kosher salt is defined by its crystal size (originally used for koshering meat) rather than its source, Diamond Crystal's production process results in lower microplastic contamination than standard sea salt brands. It is one of the most practical everyday salt choices for reducing microplastic exposure without changing your cooking habits.
Why it works
- Lower contamination than standard sea salt
- Preferred by professional chefs worldwide
- Easy to pinch -- excellent for seasoning control
- No anti-caking agents or additives
- Widely available in most grocery stores
Limitations
- Not zero microplastics -- still processed from brine
- Less mineral content than Himalayan salt
- Measures differently than table salt in recipes
- Availability varies by region
Redmond Real Salt
~$10Redmond Real Salt is mined from an ancient seabed deposit in Redmond, Utah. The salt bed was formed during the Jurassic period when an inland sea covered much of what is now the western United States. The deposit was eventually buried under volcanic ash, which sealed it from surface contamination for millions of years. The salt is extracted, crushed, and screened -- no chemical processing, bleaching, or additives. It has a distinctive pinkish hue from its natural trace mineral content and a subtle, complex flavor that many users prefer to standard table salt.
Why it works
- Ancient geological source -- no modern ocean exposure
- Minimally processed, no chemical treatment
- Rich in natural trace minerals
- US-sourced and mined domestically
- Fine grind available -- no special grinder needed
Limitations
- Slightly higher price than standard table salt
- Subtle color may be unfamiliar to some
- Less widely available in physical stores
How to Store Salt to Minimize Contamination
Even after choosing a lower-microplastic salt, how you store it matters. Many people keep salt in plastic containers, plastic bags, or leave it in the plastic packaging it came in. This creates an ongoing source of secondary microplastic contamination -- plastic containers shed microscopic particles, particularly when exposed to friction, temperature changes, or UV light.
The solution is simple: transfer your salt to a glass or ceramic container. A salt cellar (a small, open-top container designed for pinching salt while cooking) is ideal for kitchen use. A glass jar with a lid works well for longer-term storage.
Recommended: glass or ceramic salt cellars
A good salt cellar keeps your salt accessible for cooking while eliminating plastic contact entirely. Look for options made from ceramic, stoneware, marble, or glass. Avoid acacia wood salt boxes with plastic hinges, which are common but defeat the purpose.
A few additional storage tips:
- Transfer salt immediately. When you buy salt, transfer it from the plastic bag or container into a glass or ceramic vessel right away.
- Avoid salt grinders with plastic mechanisms. Many salt grinders use plastic gears or chambers that grind against the salt, releasing microplastic particles directly into your food. Choose grinders with ceramic or stainless steel mechanisms instead.
- Keep salt away from heat sources. Heat accelerates plastic degradation. If you store salt near the stove in a plastic container, it is exposed to repeated heating and cooling cycles that increase microplastic shedding.
- Check restaurant salt. The salt you use at home is only part of the equation. Restaurants overwhelmingly use the cheapest available salt -- typically refined sea salt or iodized table salt. This is harder to control but worth being aware of.
5 Steps to Reduce Microplastics from Salt
- Switch from sea salt to rock salt or Himalayan salt. This single change eliminates the highest source of salt-based microplastic exposure. Himalayan pink salt and Redmond Real Salt are the best options based on the research.
- Use Diamond Crystal kosher salt for cooking. If you need an affordable, widely available everyday cooking salt, Diamond Crystal is a solid choice with lower contamination than sea salt and excellent cooking properties.
- Store salt in glass or ceramic. Transfer salt out of plastic packaging immediately. Use a ceramic salt cellar for daily cooking and glass jars for bulk storage.
- Replace plastic salt grinders. If you use a grinder, choose one with a ceramic or stainless steel grinding mechanism. The plastic in cheap grinder mechanisms is in direct, repeated contact with your salt.
- Reduce overall salt intake. Less salt means fewer microplastics, regardless of the type. The WHO recommends no more than 5 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of salt per day. Most adults consume significantly more than this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A 2018 study published in Environmental Science & Technology analyzed 39 salt brands from 21 countries and found microplastics in 36 of them (90%). Sea salt had the highest concentration of all salt types, with levels ranging from 0 to 1,674 microplastics per kilogram. The contamination comes directly from ocean pollution -- as seawater evaporates during production, microplastic particles become concentrated in the remaining salt crystals.
Himalayan pink salt has significantly lower microplastic contamination than sea salt. It is mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, where ancient salt deposits formed approximately 250 million years ago -- long before plastic existed. While no salt can be guaranteed 100% microplastic-free due to potential contamination during processing and packaging, Himalayan salt's geological origin means it was not exposed to modern ocean plastic pollution during formation.
A 2019 analysis estimated that the average adult consumes approximately 2,000 microplastic particles per year through salt alone, based on an average salt intake of 5 grams per day and the median microplastic concentrations found in commercial salt brands. This number is higher for people who use sea salt exclusively and lower for those who use rock salt or Himalayan salt.
It depends on the source. Kosher salt refers to a crystal size and shape, not a salt source. Diamond Crystal kosher salt is made from evaporated salt brine, while Morton kosher salt is also from evaporated brine. Some kosher salts are sourced from mined rock salt deposits, which would have lower microplastic contamination. Diamond Crystal is generally considered a good option because its production process and sourcing tends to result in lower contamination than standard sea salt brands.
Based on microplastic contamination research, mined rock salts have the lowest contamination levels. Himalayan pink salt (from ancient underground deposits) and Redmond Real Salt (mined from an ancient seabed in Utah) are among the safest options. Diamond Crystal kosher salt is also a good choice. The key is to avoid salts sourced from current ocean water, which carries the highest microplastic load. Store salt in glass or ceramic containers rather than plastic to prevent additional contamination.
Sources
- Kim, J.S., Lee, H.J., Kim, S.K., & Kim, H.J. (2018). Global Pattern of Microplastics (MPs) in Commercial Food-Grade Salts: Sea Salt as an Indicator of Seawater MP Pollution. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(21), 12819-12828.
- Karami, A., Golieskardi, A., Choo, C.K., Larat, V., Galloway, T.S., & Salamatinia, B. (2017). The presence of microplastics in commercial salts from different countries. Scientific Reports, 7, 46173.
- Yang, D., Shi, H., Li, L., Li, J., Jabeen, K., & Kolandhasamy, P. (2015). Microplastic Pollution in Table Salts from China. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(22), 13622-13627.
- Lee, H.J., Song, N.S., Kim, J.S., & Kim, S.K. (2019). Microplastic Contamination in the Saltwater and Freshwater Environment: Implications for Salt Intake. Current Environmental Health Reports, 6, 321-329.
- Cox, K.D., Covernton, G.A., Davies, H.L., Dower, J.F., Juanes, F., & Dudas, S.E. (2019). Human Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(12), 7068-7074.
- World Health Organization. (2019). Microplastics in Drinking-Water. WHO Technical Report.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All product recommendations are based on independent research. We only recommend products we believe meaningfully reduce microplastic exposure based on published evidence. Last updated: March 31, 2026.