Microplastics more common in fake table salt

Researchers in Iran have found that 40 different table salt brands were all contaminated with microplastics, but levels were higher in counterfeit products.

The scientists looked at different brands of sea salt and rock salt, unlabelled bulk salt in 10kg packages and ‘non-standard’ salt – fake and unauthorised products that are sold without the required permits from Iran’s Ministry of Health.

Bulk salt had the lowest level of microplastic contamination, and non-standard salt the highest, which the authors suggest indicates a “strong probability that the pollution caused by the process of production, purification and packaging (secondary pollution) had an effect in increasing the abundance.”

Ingestion of microplastics has been linked to a wide range of potential health issues, including endocrine disruptions and cancer, so the findings suggest that the salt industry must refine its processes to remove the contamination. Furthermore, it reinforces the dangers of consuming counterfeit and illicitly-produced food.  

“The main origin of salt contamination with [microplastics] is most likely related to environmental pollution, and another part of it can be attributed to salt processing and packaging,”  according to the authors. From Iran’s Tabriz and Zahedan universities.

Microplastic pollution in salt is of particular concern in Iran because the average consumption of salt is between 8 and 12 grams per day, well above the 5 grams per day upper limit recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The study is published in the journal Toxicology Reports.

Image by macroworlds from Pixabay