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How much Lead is in salt? Which salt is safest to use for cooking? Is Himalayan salt safe?

2020· Food Water Salt Candy· Himalayan Pink Salt· Himalayan Salt· Keystone Article· Pink Salt· Salt

For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

If you work with (or own) a salt company and have more recent (or more accurate/ more specific) test results than what is listed below, please do share that with me and I will update this article! Thank you! (Please scroll to the bottom of this article for details requested to confirm your salt’s Lead levels.)

Published: October 21, 2020
Last Updated: September 1, 2023

A collaboration with readers of the Lead Safe Mama website

LeadSafeMama.com is different from pretty much every other website out there — much of the work here at Lead Safe Mama is a collaborative effort with readers and friends. When it comes to the consumer goods test results posted here on LeadSafeMama.com, while I do XRF testing of consumer goods because I often have access to an instrument and am trained and certified in doing the testing, my readers and friends and supporters choose what we test and report on and they also help pay for the testing.

There are other collaborative efforts with Lead Safe Mama readers and friends, and this article about Lead in salt is one example of that. The information in this article is an ongoing effort by one long-time Lead Safe Mama friend (Gina), and the collaboration here is that she has agreed to share her independent research publicly. I am going to do my best to explain what these Lead readings mean for you and to further document her initial findings. You can also participate in the collaboration too, by letting me know which salt you use at home, and (if you can find it) what the reported Lead levels for that salt are. I will update this article with new information as I hear from my readers! There is quite a bit of new information in the comments of this article as well – and I encourage you to scroll down and read the comments for updates from readers. Thank you for your engagement and participation in this conversation.

So what is this list?

I am so grateful that, in response to inquiries by other concerned parents in our Facebook group, Gina took the time to compile this list. So what is this list? It’s a list — a work in progress — of various companies that produce (mine, collect, gather), package, and sell salt for use in cooking, along with how much Lead (in parts per billion) is known to be in each brand of salt (in most cases, as reported by the producer of the product). Gina and other Lead Safe Mama friends and readers either contacted companies directly for this information or found it online in their publicly available product information. In some cases, they were able to collect this information from other independent sources who did testing of products from that brand.

And … why was this list put together?

This list was compiled with the intention that it would be an informal summary of Lead levels in salt for parents to reference in making safer choices for their families. As such, all of the items in the list below are not yet linked to documentation supporting the Lead levels for that brand (confirming the numbers posted in the list below), but over the coming days and weeks, I will research each one as a follow-up to Gina’s work and post any available data sheets for each product here on this website — linking them to the statements below. Since Gina last updated this list in January 2018, I will update it with any new information as I find it (including product images and links to those products) so it is as current as possible. If you have reason to believe that any of the information noted below is incorrect, please let me know.

Important to note: parts per million (ppm) vs. parts per billion (ppb)

Some of the companies noted below list the Lead levels for their salt products in parts per million (ppm) in their publicly available documents rather than parts per billion (ppb). As an example ratio, 1 ppm is equal to 1,000 ppb. When a company states in its documentation that its salt has “less than 1 ppm” of Lead, we have translated that to ppb (“less than 1,000 ppb”). We did this so all of the measurements are reported below in the same whole number standard (ppb), and because food Lead levels should be reported only in parts per billion (ppb) — as Lead is known to be toxic to humans in food (and water) at levels in the single and double digit ppb range.  

Examples of current standards for context and reference:

  • Current Organizational & U.S. Federal Regulatory Standards:
    • Bottled water is considered illegal for Lead content if it has more than 5 ppb.
    • Water in school fountains is considered toxic and unsafe for children (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics) when Lead levels exceed 1 ppb.
    • Tap water is considered to be unsafe for human consumption if it exceeds the (relatively high; not protective of human health) U.S. Federal standard of 15 ppb.
    • Fruit juice is considered unsafe for children at 50 ppb and up.
    • Dried fruit is considered toxic for consumption at 100 ppb and up.
    • Candy is considered toxic for consumption at 100 ppb and up.

How accurate is the testing being reported by salt companies?

Companies who are reporting their levels as “less than 1,000 ppb” or “less than 2,000 ppb” may actually have much lower Lead levels, but are not doing testing down to an appropriately low threshold of detection for a product intended to be ingested by humans. If their low threshold of detection is 1 ppm or 2 ppm, it is simply not accurate enough for food testing, given food standards for Lead toxicity are measured in the 1 to 100 ppb range. In the absence of more accurate testing, we (unfortunately) need to assume the worst-case scenario — for example, a “less than 1000 ppb” might be 200 ppb or 500 ppb; it could also possibly be as high as 999 ppb.

“How concerning are the levels reported? I don’t use very much salt!”

Some might argue that because salt is consumed in such small quantities, a measurement threshold in the ppm range is sufficient. I disagree with this concept, given the extreme toxicity of Lead when ingested — even at very low levels. The negative impacts of Lead on the body are also cumulative over time. So, ongoing daily exposure to a very small amount adds up. Additionally, it is important to note that (per the study cited below) the claim of “beneficial minerals” in Himalayan salt appears to also be a myth — not only can Himalayan salt be toxic, but it also may not be “good for you” in the ways sales pitches assert it may be.

A recent Australian study determined that in order to ingest a useful quantity of the beneficial minerals from Himalayan salt, one would have to consume a toxic amount of that salt and therefore a toxic dose of the heavy metals in that salt as well!

“People would need to consume six teaspoons of pink salt for those nutrients to make a meaningful contribution to their diet, which far exceeds dietary guidelines [for salt intake].” *

*Here’s the link to the October 19, 2020 article quoted above about that study. Ironically, this study claims to be “the first one” discovering the dangers of pink Himalayan salt — yet this is a topic we have been discussing in The Lead (Pb) Group on Facebook for years.

Thanks for being here! Thanks for reading. Please share this article (and the full list below) with your friends, family, and others you care about. As always, please let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them personally as soon as I have a moment.

Tamara Rubin
Owner – Lead Safe Mama, LLC
Portland, Oregon

Continue reading below the image.

Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a percentage of what you spend at no additional cost to you. High Lead-salt products are linked to their Amazon listing below NOT in order for you to purchase them, but so you can see the listing as it is “in the wild.”

Originally Compiled by Gina Rolfsmeier
Updated: October 22, 2020 

Lead Content of Various Salts
The list.

Note: “<“ means “less than”
“ppm” = parts per million
“ppb” = parts per billion
1 ppm = 1,000 ppb
0.1 ppm = 100 ppb
0.01 ppm = 10 ppb

“Ratings” Context: As a Lead-poisoning prevention activist and mother of Lead-poisoned children it is my stance that salt should be held to the same standards (for Lead toxicity) as other food items (water, candy, dried fruit, etc.) With this context as a guiding principle, salt should fall below 100 ppb in order to be considered safe for normal daily use in your kitchen. Accordingly, my evaluating statements/ratings noted in the lists below (“acceptable,” “moderately unsafe,” and “unsafe“) are based on that context. There is not currently a government agency closely monitoring these levels and evaluating the health implications of regular daily use of salt with higher Lead content for us as consumers. In the absence of appropriate testing and appropriate regulatory standards, consumers need to err on the side of caution.

Additionally, this list is by no means comprehensive, as there are countless variations of salts made by dozens (if not hundreds) of salt companies around the world. If you have a particular salt you use and are curious about, please let me know and I will see about adding it to the list and researching the Lead level (as found by independent testing sources).

Group #1) Salts in the “Less than 50 ppb” range
ACCEPTABLE — BEST CHOICES
This is the only sub-category of the salts listed that I would consider 100% acceptable.

  1. Fusion Matcha Salt: 20 ppb
  2. Jacobsen Salt Co Sea Salt: 25 ppb (This is the brand I choose to buy for my family!)
  3. Cyprus Black Mediterranean Sea Salt (from SaltWorks): <30 ppb
  4. Bali Pyramid Balinese Salt: 30 ppb
  5. SALTVERK Icelandic Salt: 30 ppb (I also love Icelandic Salt!)

Continue reading below the images.

Group #2) Salts in the “50 to 100 ppb” range
ACCEPTABLE — ALTERNATE CHOICES
These are possible alternates if you cannot find salt in the first category:

  1. Bolivian Rose Andes Mountains Mineral Salt (from SaltWorks): 72 ppb
  2. Original Himalayan Crystal Salt: <100 ppb
  3. Mediterra Mediterranean Sea Salt (from SaltWorks): <100 ppb

Group #3) Salts in the “100 to 200 ppb” range
MODERATELY UNSAFE
Use only in very limited quantities or make another choice for your family.

In the absence of further (and more accurate) testing for any salt with “less than” reading in this section, it is prudent to consider these salts moderately unsafe for consumption.

  1. Health Ranger Himalayan: <120 ppb
  2. Kirkland (Costco) Sea Salt: <120 ppb
  3. Redmond Real Salt: 167 ppb (this is not a number from Redmond)

Continue reading below the images.

Group #4) Salts in the “200 to 500 ppb” range
(= “Less than 0.5 ppm”)
UNSAFE

In the absence of further (and more accurate) testing for any salt with “less than” reading in this section, it is prudent to consider these salts unsafe for consumption.

  1. Le Paludier Fleur De Sel: 237 ppb
  2. Kirkland Signature (Costco) Himalayan Pink Salts: 250 ppb
  3. Himala Salt (“The purest salt on earth”): 250 ppb
  4. Sunfood Himalayan: 250 ppb
  5. Jevatee Himalayan Salt: 350 ppb
  6. Elements of Spice Salt: 412 ppb
  7. Selina Celtic Sea Salt: <420 ppb
  8. Natures Cargo Sea Salt: 450 ppb
  9. Le Paludier Sea Salt: 473 ppb
  10. Alea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt: <500 ppb
  11. Hiwa Kai Black Hawaiian Sea Salt: <500 ppb
  12. Pure Ocean Premium Sea Salt (by SALTWORKS) — (previously named Pure Ocean Atlantic Sea Salt), country of origin: Australia (previously sourced from Brazil): <500 ppb (updated 2/19/2019 — click here to see testing report.)

Continue reading below the images.

Group #5) Salts in the “500 to 1,000 ppb” range
(= “Less than 1 ppm”)
UNSAFE

In the absence of further (and more accurate) testing for any salt with “less than” reading in this section, it is prudent to consider these salts unsafe for consumption.

  1. Maldon Sea Salt: 700 ppb*
    • *Maldon has self-reported (in August of 2023) an updated Lead level for their salt of “less than 10 ppb” – which is an effective negative for Lead. We do not have a report to share publicly that confirms this, and (until we do) we will leave this salt in this category for the time being. You can read our communication exchange with Maldon (and related considerations) on this link.
  2. Ancient Ocean Himalayan: <1,000 ppb
  3. Aussie Flake Sea Salt: <1,000 ppb
  4. Artisan Salt Company Fleur De Sel (Country of origin: France): <1,000 ppb
  5. Fronteir Co-Op Himalayan Pink Salt: <1,000 ppb
  6. Fronteir Sea Salt: <1,000 ppb
  7. El Dorado Mesquite Salt: <1,000 ppb
  8. Paragon Australian Sea Salt: <1,000 ppb
  9. Sel Gris French Sea Salt: <1,000 ppb

Continue reading below the images.

Group #6) Salts in the “1000 to 2,000 ppb” range
(= “Less than 2 ppm”)
UNSAFE

In the absence of further (and more accurate) testing for any salt with “less than” reading in this section, it is prudent to consider these salts unsafe for consumption.

  1. Sel Gris De Guerande Sea Salt: 1,300 ppb
  2. Fusion Black Truffle Salt: <2,000 ppb
  3. Morton Table/Pickling Salt: <2,000 ppb

Continue reading below the images.

Brands that would not provide data OR had no response to this inquiry:

  1. Hain Sea Salt: Would not provide data
  2. Penzys: Would not provide data
  3. San Francisco Salt Company Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt: Would not provide data
  4. Trader Joes Salts: Would not provide data
  5. Mountain Rose Herbs Salts: Does not do any heavy metals testing on salt
  6. Diamond: no response
  7. Himalaya: no response
  8. Cerulean Seas: no response

Concluding Points

  1. Salt should be below 100 ppb Lead to be considered safe for regular daily consumption and I personally would not use salt with my family if it tested positive for Lead at 50 ppb and above. 
  2. Salt manufacturers should be more transparent in making Lead levels available to consumers.
  3. Salt manufacturers should be required to do more accurate third-party testing of their products so that all salt readings for Lead are given in whole ppb numbers, to the lowest possible threshold of detection (ideally at least to a level of accuracy with a low threshold of detection of 25 ppb or lower).
  4. Consumers are creatures of habit, buying the same products for decades. They stick to a brand once they have chosen it. If you are like most consumers in this way (and are likely to buy the same brand of salt every time you purchase salt) please choose wisely and do your research before making that choice.
  5. It just takes a microscopic amount of Lead to poison a human and we have a responsibility to do whatever we can to eliminate all known sources of Lead from our children’s lives (limiting and removing any potential exposure whenever possible).

Thanks again for reading! Let me know if you have questions!

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

NOTE TO SALT COMPANIES:

If you work with a salt company and you have recent (independent, third-party) test results you would like to share with me (in a PDF form that I can publish on this website and link to your company listing above) please email me at TamaraRubin@mac.com. I will also update the list above accordingly if your test results are different than the ones reported here.

Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a percentage of what you spend at no additional cost to you. 

~ End ~

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Marcy says

    Lead in salt is a huge concern I wasnt aware of–thank you so much. BUT and also there is another huge concern..plastics. For years we thought sea salt was OK (I see that you have some brands far safer than others when it comes to lead) but plastics are not safe in the human body and are endocrine disruptors and actually end up IN our organs, it’s a whole thing and could even be a cancer issue. So my question is–which of the safest salts on your list have no plastics? We have sued redmond as it’s a non-ocean salt source (well, ancient water bodies didn’t have plastics…) but now they are not among the best when you consider lead. I would not want to choose betw lead and plastics–we want neither (and salt is important for health). Any thoughts on lead-safe salts with no plastics? Thanks so much! Marcy

    Reply

  6. Kathleen Heilman says

    Thank you so much for this! Have you considered sharing your findings with the Center for Science in the Public Interest? It’s a non-profit consumer health advocacy group. They publish “Nutrition Action,” a science-based health newsletter that covers this sort of thing, though I’ve not seen any articles about this topic.
    I hope you and your family are able to stay safe and healthy; thank you for your efforts to help ours do the same!

    Reply

  9. Edesa K says

    Thanks for this. I have a question for you regarding the Kirkland Sea Salt. The Pink Himalayan Salt in general usually is more healthy than white salt as it has more minerals. However, in your blog and testing, you show that the Kirkland Pure Sea Salt Fine Grain (white) has less lead than the pink salt they sell. Would you recommend one weighs which one is more important for health benefits as a consumer? More health minerals or less lead one? If so, which one please?

    Reply

      • Summer says

        Pink Himalayan Salt causes oxidation in the body. Do some research on the problems with this salt. IMO, it’s best to use neither of the Costco options. Choose a salt with lead levels as low as possible but under 100.

        Reply

    • ZaCloud says

      The minerals you get from any salt containing them are absolutely tiny. You’d have to eat many spoonfuls per day (potentially fatal sodium doses) to even get like 2% Daily Value of those trace nutrients (They truly are only a trace amount). And at that point, you’d likely also ingest deadly amounts of the lead too.

      So no, the trace minerals are not worth even bothering with, let alone offsetting the lead intake. You’re better off eating foods that contain those nutrients (or supplementing if you must, though their trustworthiness is a whole ‘nother can of worms), & finding the lowest-lead & lowest-plastic salt you can.

      Reply

  10. Mimi Costley says

    So it looks like you did not find a safe iodized salt. Costco does have large boxes of iodized salt could you test that?
    Thanks, Mimi

    Reply

  12. Tabitha says

    Thank you for researching this and posting it. We have been using the McCormick Sea Salt Grinder, how safe/unsafe is this? I didn’t see it on your lists but I might have missed it.

    Reply

  13. Elisabeth says

    I wonder about Eden French Celtic Sea Salt. Due to low blood pressure and other health problems, I ingest up to 2.5 Tablespoons of this salt PER DAY. So, a LOT of salt. I also have heavy metal poisoning and am chelating. I would like this salt tested and can provide it if necessary.

    Reply

  14. Julia says

    I notice the Jacobson salt is from the Oregon coast, which normally I’m sure is pristine. However, with the wildfires, do you have any concern? My understanding is that the ash/soot/etc that happens from fire and pollutes our air and water contains a lot of lead…

    Thank you for all the work that you do!

    Reply

  16. Han says

    Thanks for doing this list!!

    I buy nascent iodine liquid to supplement separately as I don’t like manufacturers to choose my nutrients, plus the manufacturing and transport chain is a nasty thing that is full of industrial toxins such as cleaning solutions for the tanks, lubricant for equipment, and the like.

    Reply

  17. Ronda Kudrna says

    This information is upsetting. I have a condition called, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome and we are advised to eat sometimes 3x the amount of salt per day than the normal person and yet not once has lead been bought up. Thank you for your work.

    Reply

  19. Trina says

    Hi Tamara, after reading this article, I emailed Redmond Real Salt and asked them if their salt products contain any lead. I own many of their products at homes so I was concerned for my own health. Their reply:

    “Thank you for contacting us with your question. Redmond Real Salt is 3rd party lab tested for mercury, lead, arsenic etc. and the current analysis reflects none found.
    -Rick”

    I’m a little skeptical by their response and would liked it if they gave me more information about their testing or showed me the reports of the analysis, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on this…

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      They are not testing to appropriate low thresholds of detection. They are likely only testing to 1 PART PER MILLION or 5 PARTS PER MILLION – which are (respectively) 1,000 parts per BILLION or 5,000 parts per BILLION. By not doing appropriately accurate testing they get to say “they didn’t find any Lead.”

      Tamara

      Reply

      • Michelle says

        Is it possible that we are fretting over this salt situation too much? Last week when this was trending I was thinking about throwing my Redmond’s real salt out. But honestly I think the stress over the whole thing is worse than the 1 part per million that might contain some negligible amount of iron. I asked Realfoodgangstas (east west healing) and they said they use Redmond’s even though it has the pink hues. I just think perhaps there are bigger things to focus on for our health and I honestly don’t know if switching my salt brand will be the cure all to make me healthy and vibrant.

        Reply

        • Tamara says

          Redmond is one of the most HORRIBLE greenwashing companies out there. I have met the owner. In spite of what he knows about his products (from testing he has done himself) he doesn’t appear to care that he is misleading the public about the Lead content in his products. He’s horrible. I would never buy anything from them, ever.

          Please read about their EarthPaste products here on my site: https://tamararubin.com/category/earthpaste/

          Tamara

          Reply

          • Bella says

            Hi Tamara,
            Could you please recommend any safe regular salt? Non sea salt? Thank you very much!

        • Tamara says

          Michelle, my kids have permanent brain damage from being lead poisoned. I live this every day. If you choose NOT to worry about this for yourself, that’s fine with me. I will NEVER intentionally feed my children something that tests positive for Lead. NEVER.Know better, do better.

          If you have not seen my documentary feature film here’s the link, please consider watching it to better understand the issue – so you will make well informed decisions based on science – out of the mouths of scientists: https://tamararubin.com/2021/01/my-film-passed-300000-views-on-youtube-today-heres-the-link-to-watch-it-if-you-have-not-yet/

          Tamara

          Reply

          • MaryAnn Lastova says

            Thank you so much for this dialogue and creating awareness. I am so sorry your children were exposed to lead. It’s not right. I believe the government is not monitoring our food supply nearly enough. One of the reasons I am interested in safe iodized salt is that seaweed can be high in lead and other heavy metals, as well. “Heavy metal contamination is a known issue with seaweed foods, and, although some products bear warning labels indicating that they may pose a risk of reproductive harm (typically due to lead), the amounts and types of toxic metals they contain are typically not listed.”
            https://www.consumerlab.com/news/metals-in-seaweed-snacks/12-20-2021/#:~:text=%22Since%20all%20of%20the%20seaweed,day%2C%20particularly%20for%20children.%22

            And the Fukushima nuclear power plant will be releasing Olympic swimming pools worth of contaminated water, for many years. Other nuclear power plants do this as well.

            Again, thank you for trying to help by hosting this important conversation.

  20. Suresh says

    Thanks a lot for this. This is great. I have a question about Saltworks. When I take a look at their website and certification, I see this for all their products: “Lead result < 0.50 ppm". For instance, for Mediterra, here is the link: https://seasalt.com/download-file/T3JvXEJ1bmRsZVxQcm9kdWN0QnVuZGxlXEVudGl0eVxQcm9kdWN0fHNwZWNzX3NoZWV0X3BkZnwyMjd8ZG93bmxvYWR8bWVkaXRlcnJhX0NPQS5wZGY=.pdf

    How did you find out that their Mediterra salt has less than 100ppb lead? Their certification is just saying that it is only less than 500ppb.

    Reply

  22. Sophie says

    Hi Tamara,

    Thank you for your work! I am wondering if you have any other salt choices to recommend as none of the salts you recommend above (in either of the top two categories) are available in Canada! Are you able to help those of us north of the border to use safer salt? Thank you!

    Reply

  23. Michael (NW) says

    What about Whole Foods 365 Fine Sea Salt? I believe it comes from Portugal , some water inlet off the Mediterranean Sea…. I think….?

    Reply

  24. Alexa says

    Hello, my husband is wondering if the body metabolizes lead differently in different food categories. For example, the compounds that make up salt are harmful separate but when they come together make up delicious salt which we can metabolize. He’s wondering essentially if lead if as toxic in salt as it is in water or if the body treats it differently. If that’s why the FDA has a different allowance to the amount of lead in salt vs other products? I’m just confused. Lead is found in most food these days, right? It has even been knowingly sold in baby food and people are trying to downplay the toxicity. It’s all kind of confusing!

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      Lead allowances are based on product volume – (which is usually based on moisture content.) They are FDA allowances. They are not watched. They are not adhered to by companies. If you watch my film https://tamararubin.com/2021/01/my-film-passed-300000-views-on-youtube-today-heres-the-link-to-watch-it-if-you-have-not-yet/ you will learn that 90% of the Lead we have ever ingested or inhaled is still in our bodies. 90%. The impact is cumulative throughout our lifetime. To have any daily known source of a measurable amount of Lead (using current measurement tools and methodologies) is unacceptable. There is no safe level of Lead for human exposure. None. Def. watch my documentary film and let me know if you have questions. It has interviews with many of the top scientists on the issue. It has music donated by The Who and Tom Waits. Doctors, nurses and teachers (and other professionals) often get state certified CEUs when coming to presentations where I share the film and give a post-screening discussion – I promise you that you will learn something new. Thanks advance for taking the time.

      Tamara

      Reply

  25. Carley says

    Hello! So glad I found this info! Thanks for sharing. Wondering if you have a resource about diamond crystal? That’s my kitchen workhorse salt and is widely used among chefs so I’m curious what information you know! Thanks!

    Reply

  26. Erica says

    Hi Tamara!

    Wow! I learn from you at every turn!!

    SALT was not something I gave much thought about (except to eat sparingly).
    WHY do some salts/salt companies have lead and others do not? Is it about how it is harvested?
    I’m wondering so that I can take some precautions when visiting my in-laws in Scandanavia.
    The average grandparent there doesn’t use especially ‘fancy’ salts (like Saltwerks) so I thought I could try to navigate based on the reasons ‘why’ some brands have the lead.
    Would you also please post links for you to get credit on the newly established amazon.se. Please post for some of these salts (and other kitchen items)?

    Thanks for EVERYTHING you do for ALL of us!
    Erica

    Reply

  27. Mary says

    Hello, I can’t find the safest salts to buy, from the saltverk icelandic salt I have only found the lava salt variety with activated carbon. Is this also safe?
    greetings and thanks.

    Reply

  29. Dean says

    Hello,
    I would like to please request a product test for the sea salt in A. Vogel Herbamare Original, thank you! Also, should we be concerned about the ceramic grinders used in salt grinders, even glass ones?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  30. Ebel says

    Tamara, your SALT list shows
    Group #2) Salts in the “50 to 100 ppb” range
    Mediterra Mediterranean Sea Salt <100 ppb Lead
    https://seasalt.com/download-file/T3JvXEJ1bmRsZVxQcm9kdWN0QnVuZGxlXEVudGl0eVxQcm9kdWN0fHNwZWNzX3NoZWV0X3BkZnwyMjh8ZG93bmxvYWR8bWVkaXRlcnJhX0NPQS5wZGY=.pdf

    Group #4) Salts in the “200 to 500 ppb” range
    Pure Ocean Premium Sea Salt <500 ppb Lead
    https://seasalt.com/download-file/T3JvXEJ1bmRsZVxQcm9kdWN0QnVuZGxlXEVudGl0eVxQcm9kdWN0fHNwZWNzX3NoZWV0X3BkZnwxMTExfGRvd25sb2FkfHB1cmUtb2NlYW5fQ09BLnBkZg==.pdf

    But their (online) spec sheets BOTH show the same < 0.50 Lead content

    (These tests are by independent testing sources, independent of what is reported by the seller (Saltworks) , correct?

    Also why is some salt so much more expensive then others, like the Group #1 Jacobsen & Saktverk are like $16 for 4oz, yet the Group #2) Mediterra Mediterranean is $7 for 16oz! Big difference
    Thanks Tamara!

    Reply

  31. Clara says

    Hi Tamara! Thanks for all your work! What do you think about salt and pepper grinders? I’ve been using them, but am suddenly thinking there’s a lot of friction and opportunity for any heavy metals present to become worn off, ground into more easily absorbed pieces (in the case of the pepper, since the salt just gets dissolved and highly bioavailable whether it’s ground or not) and ingested. Have you done any testing?

    Reply

  32. Juliana Kingsbury says

    Would you trust any of the salts from Jacobsen Sat Co? I see the one you have linked but it doesn’t look like that specific one is sold on their website anymore. It looks like they source from Oregon and Italy. Would you trust both? Or only the Oregon one you have tested? Thank you so much for all your hard work!

    Reply

  33. Kayla says

    How did you get the detailed lead readings for the SaltWorks salt? I’ve looked at their spec sheets and they all say <0.50ppm or <1.00ppm.

    Reply

  34. Sophie says

    Hi Tamara – thanks so much for this article and list. I recently reached out to a salt manufacturer (in Canada) and they reported their lead levels in terms of ug/g. Specifically, they said their salt tested at 1.14 ug/g for lead, where the corresponding acceptance criteria for ingestion is 20.9 ug. They further explained that “Ug is micrograms (1 ug/kg =0.001 ug/g). Based on ug/kg body weight/day assuming an average 70 kg adult.” Do you have any advice on how to translate results expressed in these terms? Thanks very much!

    Reply

  35. Ang says

    I would like to see information for SAL ELEFANTE 100% Coarse Sea Salt from Mexico sold by Sisamex, Inc., Dallas, Texas. It is sold at Walmart and online and is packaged in a white cloth bag. I emailed the company and received no response.

    Reply

  36. analisa says

    I wonder if you could expand your research to include safer salts that are more affordable than the ones in your safe list. I live solely on ssi and they are all way out of my price range, especially given how much salt I use to manage dysautonomia. thanks!

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      Hi there! Thank you for commenting. I will let you know if I find something more affordable and safer. I go with the European sea salts at Whole Foods when I am working with a tighter budget (which is most of the time.) – although I don’t have the specific test results for those.

      T

      Reply

      • E says

        I was using the 365 mediteranian salt for gargling and noticed black sand at the bottom of my cup…I would love to see more testing on other brands. Thank you for this!

        Reply

  37. Sharon Teeler says

    With the Jacobsen is there any concern about radiation from from the Fukushima reactors? It’s so disappointing to learn that there’s lead in our salt and no good option for an alternative. Thank you.

    Reply

  39. Courtney says

    For Bali Pyramid Balinese Salt listed in the best category, I’m finding that this is a type of salt, not a brand.

    Do you recall which brand you found, or should we assume all salt from this source is likely lead safe? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      I don’t think it is appropriately tested for heavy metals (since they don’t appeal to a “natural foods” consumer – they probably don’t see a need.) I have noticed (in general) that so much stuff that is Kosher is actually toxic in other ways, so unfortunately the “Kosher” label doesn’t indicate any sort of quality beyond being Kosher. [We had a Kosher certificate for our honey before my mother died.]
      T

      Reply

  41. Géraldine says

    How interesting and unfortunately concerning. Would you know about Fleur de Selde Guérande from the brand Le Guérendais ? Thank you !

    Reply

  42. Heidi says

    This was a good article and you had me until you linked the moderate use and unsafe salts for purchase (via affiliate link). Would one not want to link any of these? I realize we all make our own choices, but I wouldn’t say, do not use these, they are unsafe, but here’s a link for you to purchase (in which I get a small commission).

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      I link to my affiliate links because you don’t have to purchase what I link to in order for me to receive a percentage of what you spend on Amazon. So you can click the link to “see it in the wild” and then go buy some string for your kids art project (for example) and then I would earn about 4% of what you spend on that string. My regular readers understand this and have asked me to include affiliate links wherever possible as it helps to cover about 30% of the costs of the work here on this website.

      Reply

    • Tamara says

      Many salts also have very similar names – so by providing the link to the product tested (which has manufacturer information in addition to what I have on the post) it gives more information to my readers to help them make decisions in the future.

      T

      Reply

  43. Paul Logue says

    Would it be possible to combine a moderately concentrated salt solution together with a lead-compound-precipitating solution such that a filterable precipitate would be formed? The resulting lead-free filtrate could be evaporated to yield salt crystals to be used traditionally. Or, more economically, the filtrate could be concentrated and used as “liquid salt.”

    Reply

  44. Melanie F says

    You have done your job well as most of the lowest ones are unavailable on amazon… except for the Icelandic. The Jacobson one is available on their own website in different packaging I think!

    Reply

  46. Parisa Hill says

    Hi, thanks for all your work! The Jacobsen salt link on Amazon is unavailable, but I did look into an alternative option for Jacobsen- did their “pure kosher sea salt” (1lb) or their “trapani pure italian fine salt” (1.81 lb) rate well? equal or less than 25 ppb? I would like to purchase these two and before I commit, I want to be sure these two salts are safe as I have two toddlers under 3 and we are ditching the Redmond salt!

    Reply

  47. Speedstarr says

    Hello,
    I contacted Saltworks and asked them if their Cyprus mediterranean sea salt was the same salt used in their Cyprus black mediterranean sea salt. They said Yes! I hope this helps others in the quest to finding safe salt 🙂

    Reply

  48. Sandra says

    I spoke with Redmond Salt, and they posted this article explaining that their salt tested negative for lead all the way down to 50 ppb. That is different from the result posted above. It sounds like Tamara believes, from her interactions with the owner, that they are misrepresenting the lead levels, but I wanted to put it out there.
    https://kb.redmond.life/answers/i-saw-a-report-online-that-showed-real-salt-has-169-ppb-of-lead.-ive-heard-that-safe-water-is-less-than-15-ppb.-your-report-doesnt-list-lead.-can-you-hel-1613683863130

    I wrote to Saltworks and got this reply about lead:
    “Even our Sel Gris (Celtic) sea salt tests in at <1.00 ppm; when you see Trace Metals and Nutrients listed with the “<” sign, this is stating that this specific trace metal was tested and proven to be less than .200 Parts Per Million. This indicates that the heavy metal is not present; however, it would not be accurate to list it as zero, as current testing methods cannot detect it at any smaller amount. This salt and the rest of our gourmet salts meet all FDA and Codex standards as being food grade and completely safe for consumption."

    I highly doubt that technology cannot test further down than .200 parts per million (=200 ppb), but that amount is still better than 1.00 ppm (= 1000ppb)!

    Reply

  49. Sandra says

    Saltworks just informed me that they are discontinuing the plain Cyprus Sea Salt, due to “because we no longer wish to harvest from the Mediterranean due to increased pollution.” They only have refill pouches left, and when they sell out, that will be that.
    Their COA for that product says tested below 500ppb- how were the results above showing less than 30ppb derived?
    Their black Cyprus combines Cyprus salt and charcoal, so the Cyprus salt is the same salt.

    Reply

  51. Adrienne West says

    Hi. I am also trying to find the source of lead found in my blood. Have you tested Herbamare by Vogel? I cannot find any info on it. I am also wondering if in your opinion, any of the home lead test swabs work. Thank you so much for what you do.

    Reply

  52. Bethann says

    I’d really love to know levels in some of the sea salt and Himalayan salt sold under the Azure Standard name. They are a very big and “responsible” company according to most and so many families across the country use their products.

    Reply

    • Ali says

      I wold also like to know about Azre Standard’s pink Himalayan salt please.thank you for your important work!!

      Reply

      • Tamara says

        Any Himalayan salt will have unsafe levels of lead – & to consume the amount of “beneficial minerals” to have enough for them to be beneficial you would have to consume a toxic amount of salt – so the whole conversation about this category of products (no matter what the brand is) is marketing hype / untrue. It’s all bad.

        Reply

  53. Erin says

    Hello, I’m in need of buying 1 pound of salt to put in the birth tub for my upcoming home birth. It needs to be regular sea salt for it’s anti bacterial properties and making the water soft. It is NOT epsom salt.

    I have referenced this post many times when buying salt that I use for eating.

    This salt will just be in the water.

    It looks like the top “best category” salts are sold by the 4 ounce and a bit expensive for a whole pound (compared to just buying a bag of generic sea salt at the grocery store).

    Is this important enough in this context to spend a lot on salt to dump in a tub? Or is this only key when eating the salt?

    In my last birth I used the tub for pain relief but birthed my baby on land so it’s likely this water will not touch baby, but that I’ll be soaking in it for some time.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  54. abbie says

    Hi TAmara,
    I have been trying to find the Mediterra Sea Salt by Saltworks in group 2 (group 1 is so expensive) and i finally found out why it is out of stock everywhere. Saltworks says they stopped making it due to microplastics concerns in sea salt and they are suggesting people try their pure ocean salt. Do you have any test results on that? https://seasalt.com/mediterra-retail

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      Oh boy – so many considerations! Sorry about that. I don’t know of any testing that has been done on that – but if they think it is a good option I think “pure ocean salt” might be better than some of the other salts on the list (I try to stick with sea salt at least if I cannot find exactly what I am looking for.)
      T

      Reply

  55. abbie says

    Thanks for your comment. I just saw that their Pure Ocean salt is on your list and it is in the unsafe category. I just called Saltworks to see if they had any pure white salt that had testing that was down to the ppb and they don’t, but the lady i got on the phone was really cool and i sent her a link to your article and she was reading it while we were on the phone and was really interested. She is forwarding your article to her quality team with my request that they have testing down to ppb and find some that is really low in lead. I asked her about the testing on their discontinued Mediterra salt that was in your Acceptable – Alternative Choice category and she only had the testing to ppm as well. Where did you find the test results saying that it had less than 100 ppb? Did you do that one with your spectrometer?
    The lady at Saltworks told me that they are steering clear of salts from the Mediterranean sea because they are really dirty. Anyway, thanks for all you do. I still can’t find a salt that meets my needs and my budget. I just don’t really trust the Kirkland salt as they are owned by costco who is funded by Vanguard and Blackrock so I don’t really trust them!

    Reply

    • Roy says

      Lately, they are not providing much info on their Kirkland products arguing it is a corporate secret. When they switched to the latest (2023) salt, they denied a request for info on the heavy metal content of this salt.

      Other companies have no problem in sending a certificate of analysis, although they can be dated (5 years or more). Costco doesn’t care much about customer rights.

      This is the first sign of quality issues, I saw the same thing with an organic dairy brand (Stonyfield Organic), it was also a secret whether they use the dutch process or not (chocolate).

      Reply

  56. Nicci Engelbrecht says

    Thank you for this AWESOME article and all the hours of research! I am in South Africa and we have access to locally mined Desert salt from the Kalahari. This is what their COA states: Lead: <10 PPM. Is this safe?

    Reply

    • Phillys says

      That result isn’t accurate enough for food testing, given food standards for Lead toxicity are measured in the 1 to 100 ppb range.

      10 ppm (parts per Million) translates to 10,000 ppb (parts per Billion).

      So <10 ppm (parts per Million) could be as high as 9,999 ppb (parts per Billion).

      Reply

  57. Tawni says

    In regards to the Bali Pyramid Balinese Salt, do you have a brand you recommend and tested? With Jacobsen and Saltwerk out of stock at the moment we’re out of salt options!!
    Thanks so much!!

    Reply

  58. Sophie says

    Hi Tamara: I contacted Salt Spring Island Sea Salt (in Canada – https://www.saltspringseasalt.com/) and was told they do third party testing and that with respect to lead:

    “The lab measures in ug/g. The result for lead is 1.14 ug/g and the corresponding acceptance criteria for ingestion is 20.9 ug. Ug is micrograms (1 ug/kg =0.001 ug/g). Based on ug/kg body weight/day assuming an average 70 kg adult.”

    Could you help decipher this? Is this good?

    Thank you for your work!

    Reply

  59. Phyllis says

    http://www.american-analytical.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Conversion-Tables1.pdf

    It looks like 1 ug/g = 1 ppm = 1,000 ppb

    So this 1.14 ug/g salt would have 1,140 ppb lead.

    Additionally, they seem to be saying that 20.9 ug of lead is an acceptable level for a 70 kg adult to ingest daily.

    Dividing that 20.9 ug of daily lead figure by the 1.14 ug of lead present in every g of salt, would mean that you could consume 18.3 g of their salt before ingesting 20.9 ug lead. 18.3 g = 3.2 tsp.

    Check my math, but that’s what I’m getting.

    Reply

  60. Drewp says

    Thanks Tamara for this research. April 24 2022 after a few hours searching I ended up with Jacobsen. It was pricey but if you order this combo, you get right to $75 and get free shipping ($21 for me otherwise). Hope this puts off my salt needs for a year and perhaps there will be more available or I will be more healed and can tolerate a higher ppb. What are others ordering?

    Steak Seasoning 1 $8.00
    Pure Kosher Sea Salt 1 Canister 2 $26.00
    Netarts Bay Bundle – With 4oz Flake Bag 1 $30.00
    Raw Blackberry Honey – Willamette Valley, Oregon – 8.62oz Jar1 1 $11.00

    Reply

    • Sandra says

      I ended up with Jasobsen too. I ordered from mypanier.com
      I wanted to try the Icelandic salt but it was really expensive. I wish they could provide a cheaper bulk option.

      Reply

  61. Bella says

    Hi Tamara,
    Thank you for all the important work you’ve done. I personally only buy things you’ve test safe. How about the Jacobsen Pure Kosher Sea Salt Canister 1 lb and Morton iodized table salt and sea salt? What is the brand name of European seasalt in Whole Foods you recommend? How much do you need to do another test on more affordable regular salt besides seasalt? Possibly all the subscribers could donate to do another salt test. Thank you

    Reply

  62. Katie says

    Hi there, what about Baja Gold? Very popular with folks (and kids) doing the GAPS diet and protocol. Thank you.

    Reply

  63. Ryan says

    Costco’s Kirkland branded sea salt was from Brazil (2021), but now is from Australia (2022), so these values no longer apply.

    Costco recently refused to divulge the heavy metal content (chemical analysis) in their sea salt.

    Reply

  64. Nadine says

    Hi,

    I use the Selina Celtic Salt and since reading this blog I contacted them. Their response mentions your testing uses parts per BILLION but their tests are in parts per MILLION so could you please now provide an update on this brand.

    Also if they have reached out to you it would be nice if you would speak with them instead of ignoring

    Reply

  66. Alexi says

    Tamara! I have always enjoyed your posts over the years. So informative. I appreciate all that you to to help keep everyone safe and promote awareness!

    Alexi

    Reply

  67. Rosie says

    I want to avoid heavy metals of course, but I just don’t see the point of testing something like salt. Whether it’s from the sea, or mined, every batch will be different, because every day the sea changes, and new seams of salt will be mined. If the salt companies even have a consistent supply location, which is far from certain in many cases anyway.

    Reply

  68. Stan says

    So after reading this article, I went on the Selina Celtic Sea Salt website and noticed that they have a comparison of their different salts with the Lead measured in ppm available for download as a Word doc. The Gourmet Kosher listed in this article has much higher levels than the same product on their website (they list .027ppm, which I believe translates to 270 ppb?). Were the levels measured previously or independently for the article on this page? Just trying to figure out the discrepancy as I’m researching salts to consume.

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      The levels in this article are from a compilation of sources from the time the article was written. Most are not from the manufacturer. It’s possible their new product is lower (new batches, new variations etc.)

      T

      Reply

  69. homesteader says

    So glad we found this–we had no idea how much lead was in these so called healthy salts. If anyone can post info on low cost salt such as diamond kosher salt for independently tested lead levels, please update us here.
    We are scraping by on a tight budget and fancy salt is not affordable for home pickling and brining, etc. Low income people also care about lead levels in their children. Thank you in advance to anyone who can afford to send some samples to a lab. bless you!

    Reply

  70. Katharine says

    Hi Tamara,

    Thanks for this great research!

    I went to buy the Jacobsen salt you recommended, & see that their kosher salt from Oregon is MUCH cheaper than their “pure flake finishing salt,” also from Oregon. (https://jacobsensalt.com/collections/pure-sea-salt). They assured me on the phone that both are harvested from the same place & have the same chemical analysis.

    The problem is that the kosher salt comes in a canister with an aluminum bottom (& plastic top).

    Since salt is not liquid, & there would be no scraping of any metal instrument inside the salt canister, do you think it’d be safe to use their kosher salt in the canister? (I could avoid using the bottom inch).

    Or, do you think the salt is totally contaminated if it’s in a canister with an aluminum base?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  72. Andrew says

    Also BIG THANKS to Gina Rolfsmeier! (plz forgive me if I attributed something from the above to you Tamara if it was originally written by Gina. Gratitude to you both!

    Reply

  74. Mercy says

    Thanks so much for renting that XRF analyzer to do all of this!!! Those things are expensive, so we’d been putting it off, then I saw your post.

    I mentioned you here (salt on avocados),
    https://mymontessorihouse.substack.com/p/a-perfect-food-for-children

    If Redmond’s keeps bugging you, let us know. We currently buy their farm mineral blocks because, well, the sources all look similar. But if they keep hassling you, I’ll rally and get a bulk order of Himalayan salt from RM Salt, an exporter of Himalayan salt that I’ve been thinking of buying samples from. Now I am wondering if the horses could tell a difference…

    Reply

  75. Me says

    Have you tested any kala namak, which is the name used for black salt used in Indian cooking to give foods a sulphurous taste? I heard vegans use it to make foods reminiscent of eggs.

    Reply

  76. Amanda Osenga says

    I’m curious if you’ve changed any of your eating habits in light of this and/or done digging into what salt different food manufacturers use. Virtually anything pre-made or pre-packaged has salt in it. I’m guessing lots of companies use salt that’s higher on this list largely because it’s cheaper. I’d love to know what you’ve discovered along these lines!

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      Yes – I try to eat as little pre-packaged food as possible (mostly eat fresh, raw and whole) and I also use very little salt (one little $11 bag of Jacobsen’s lasts me a year or more.)

      T

      Reply

  77. Atty says

    I’m wondering your opinion on the Selina Celtic sea salt (the gourmet kosher) I don’t understand how to read it because it says mcg

    Reply

    • Tamara says

      Most Celtic salt is somewhat gray – and therefore more likely to be lead contaminated. Is it gray or white salt?
      T

      Reply

  78. Emilia says

    Hello Tamara, have you tested Nordur Icelandic Salt? If you have not, do you think it would be comparable to Saltverk?
    Thank you

    Reply

  79. Cathryn says

    I see the brand crucial four icelandic salt being promoted a lot I’m wondering if you have heard of it or seen it in the health circles. I’m wondering if that salt is safe?

    Reply

  80. Elodie says

    I’m in Australia. Anyone else? Finding it very hard to source any of the brands recommended by Tamara. Does anyone have any information about low lead salt available in Australia please? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Michelle Pummell says

      hi i’m in australia and trying to find sources too, i contacted Nirvana about their himalayan salt and the lead content as that is what i have in the cupboard at home and this was the info given below – and available easily online and health food stores in Aus, i’m assuming .05 would mean it was 50PPB.

      Nirvana Himalayan Crystal Salt brand did extremely well in this report, with less than 0.05mg per 1kg for Lead whereas the average of all brands was 0.13mg with the highest recording being 2.59mg.

      I have send the info on to Tamara as it would be great if there is a product safe enough for us over on this side of the world to access.

      Reply

  83. Mary says

    If you want to cook with a salt that is low in lead, this is good as you recommend.

    https://jacobsensalt.com/products/pure-kosher-sea-salt

    I am still searching for a salt low in lead and has minerals that you can add to your water since Jacobsen Salt takes great lengths to remove as much of the minerality as possible. Their salt will provide the recommended sodium needed for vital body function, but they admit not the best fit for mineralizing water.

    Would appreciate recommendations.

    Reply

  84. Liz says

    Thank you and everyone who helped for this compilation! I was using various brands (often no-name brands from my health food store)of Himalayan salt. As others here, it was because I wanted to avoid the microplastics found in sea salt.

    In the compilation, the various brands of Himalayan salt have different amounts of lead. Yet they are all mined from the same Himalayan salt stores, although possibly from different areas of the mountains. How do you explain the differences in lead levels and how constant do you think these numbers are? If one Himalayan salt has one level and another has a different level it means these same mountains have different levels of lead in different spots (I’m guessing, but maybe there is another explanation ). If so, if the company tested at some point, it could easily change with time as they dig further into the rock salt. It seems to me like unless a company is doing very regular testing, choosing a particular brand will not be a very reliable way to avoid lead, at least for Himalayan salt since we see so much variability. Any thoughts?

    Reply

  85. Mary says

    Makes sense.

    The way it was explained to me recently is “the bad salt is the Himalayan salt and other similar “lifted caves” that are no longer at sea bottom level, because these salt areas were lifted by tectonic forces, which mix and melt heavy metals that then seep through the walls of the rocks and salt. These salts contain heavy metals and are also radioactive.”

    And so, not sure how picking another brand will be reliable.

    This reliable source also explained, “ salt is naturally transparent and looks white. Salt that is not white/transparent, has melted metals in it–this is why Himalayan salt is pink (rested iron)–or has colored mud/sand incorporated–like the French pink and gray salts.”

    Reply

    • Mary says

      I am not an expert, but the more I read about it, the more I feel I prefer to stay away from the Himalayan salts, unless the information I’m reading is incorrect. So hard to understand with so much conflicting data.

      If someone can educate me more, would love to hear as I have a year supply of Himalayan salt!

      Reply

      • Liz says

        Thanks for the interesting information on “lifted caves” and that meaning that metals have mixed into the salt. That would mean that all above-ground, rock salt in mountains etc is likely to have heavy metals and radioactivity and we know that sea salt has microplastics in it. That leaves us with either one of those unappealing choices or table salt. I switched from table salt to sea salt, then Himalayan salt years ago thinking it was healthier, but given the options of lead or plastic, I’m starting to think that maybe table salt might not be that bad. I looked it up and it looks like “Regular table salt comes from salt mines and is processed to eliminate minerals”. So it’s bare of trace minerals, but then also bare of heavy metals, I assume. I’ve contacted on the of the table salt companies asking them for an analysis and I’ll post back if I get a reply. If the trace minerals in the table salt alternatives is not that critical, then maybe table salt is a clean, safe choice?

        Reply

        • Mary says

          Yes, agree. This reliable source told me that she uses table salt “or kosher salt because these are washed, heated, and in the case of Morton also placed under vacuum, which kills everything and strips everything possible from salt.” Morton salt although goes through this process, lead still at <2,000 ppb.
          https://www.copecompany.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Morton-Cullinox-Sell-Sheet.pdf

          As I had mentioned above, I am still searching for a salt low in lead that has minerals that you can add to your water however, many believe this is not necessary and you can get trace minerals buy simply eating right.

          At this point, what are your thoughts on mineral water? Is there a brand you recommend?

          Thank you.

          Reply

          • Liz says

            Wow, I don’t get why with all that stripping Morton’s is still only <2,000 ppb!

            I’m still looking into it, but if I find a table salt with better numbers, I am looking into adding in minerals into my diet to replace the ones I’d no longer be getting from salt. We are in an epidemic of nutrient deficiencies due to poor soil, so I feel like removing the amount from salt is worth trying to get back somehow. I just contacted Concentrace to see what the heavy metal levels are in their trace mineral solutions (it’s from the Utah salt lake and they claim it’s pristine, but I could imagine there are naturally occurring heavy metals. I’ll post back here if they send me their analysis.

            I stopped drinking mineral water because of microplastics. The water may be great going into the bottle, but after some time in there, it picks up enough microplastics to become a health hazard. There was a study on that and it shocked me enough to stop buying it. So I rely on a good filter that gets the bad stuff out (including fluoride, pfas, pharmaceuticals, the stuff regular filters leave in) and keeps the good minerals in. There are a few that do that, Berkey, Clearly Filtered (what I have).

  86. Mary says

    Good to know about the filter. Considering an under sink filter with multipure but have not decided will compare with clearly water (curious if filters are made in USA). Microplastics after some time of being in the bottle? That develop, or from the bottle (glass/plastic?)

    Keep me updated. Jacobsen is good for table salt but again, no trace minerals. Otherwise, best foods to get these as well as supplements. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Liz says

      I did a calculation that gave me a lot of clarity, I was looking at the limits for water that Tamara has provided for reference and I wanted to compare the amounts in some of the worst salts (as a worst case scenario) to what the equivalent would be in water. I found recommended daily salt consumptions of around 1/2- 1tsp a day. I salt liberally when I’m cooking (which is where my salt goes in) and estimated my added salt intake as 1 tsp a day, so again, calculating on the high end to make sure I don’t underestimate, that means I’m consuming 5 g of salt/day. Now taking 8cups of water per day (8×250 mL= 2000mL or 2000g) so we generally consume 2000 g of water/day. 2000g is 400 x 5g. This means that a salt that has a ppb 400 times that of drinking water at the lowest water limit (school drinking fountains) of 1 ppb, gives us the same amount of lead as drinking water with the lowest limit for drinking water. So eating 1tsp of day of any salt below 400ppb is equivalent or less to drink 8 cups of water from a school drinking fountain. I find that helps put things in perspective. Personally, that means using Himalayan salt that often came in at 200-250 ppb, is actually safer than drinking the water with the lowest ppb lead limit of 1ppb. Of course, less lead is always better and if there was a clear option with lower lead and no microplastics, I’d go with that, but I prefer to avoid microplastics and I don’t see the table salt coming in at any better, but it has beneficial minerals stripped. So for me personally, Himalayan salt is back on. However, that’s a personal decision, but I posted my calculations in case it helps anyone else because without doing the calculations it’s hard to get a feel for what absolute levels of lead we are dealing with and how it compares to other things we ingest daily.

      Reply

  87. Mary says

    Could you elaborate more on the microplastics?

    Which Himalayan Salt will you be using?
    To cook, or to add to your water? Or both?

    I noticed my filtration system strips good and bad TDS’ and this was their response, “ Many nutritionists recommend that you receive essential vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced diet, and not necessarily from water alone. Additionally “The consumption of low TDS water, naturally occurring or received from a treatment process, does not result in harmful effects to the human body.””

    Thx

    Reply

    • Liz says

      I use salt for cooking only, as my water filtration system keeps good minerals in, so I don’t add salt to my water. If I were to add back minerals to water filtered at home, I would check that the filter removes all the lead, otherwise you are potentially doubling up on lead, from the water and whatever you add into it.

      I buy Himalayan salt that I cook with from my natural food store, it’s no name, bulk from the store, or a Canadian brand you probably don’t have (I’m in Canada). I think that bc there is variability in the rock salt (regardless of whether it is Himalayan or Bolivian Rose as you were saying), depending on where they happen to be digging for that batch, there is no sense in buying a particular brand of rock salt if they all come from the same mountains (that’s not true for sea salt bc it’s harvested from different locations/oceans/seas (eg north vs south of France, Mediterranean vs Atlantic ocean etc, which could have different lead quantities). Unless the brand does constant testing to ensure they are not above a certain ppb of lead, something that I have not seen any salt company do. Otherwise, I suspect that the differences we are seeing in different Himalayan salt brands are somewhat random in that they tested at some point, when they were digging at some random spot in the mountain and next month, yr etc, the same brand could be higher or lower in lead as they dig in a different spot. Besides, many US brands buy from a local supplier in the Himalayas and don’t actually dig there themselves, so they could change suppliers and we wouldn’t know. I think it’s a good idea to compare different rock salts (not brand, but mine/rock locations) because different areas of the world/salt deposits could have different lead concentrations. I am also thinking I might trust an American brand and location like Redmond’s more than Himalayan bc I would trust that they might pay more attention to the digging equipment. I could easily see industrial shovels etc containing lead and adding to the naturally present lead. Just as Tamara found lead in the KitchenAid stand mixer attachments, I can easily imagine industrial shovels etc having lead, even in the US for that matter). However, there may be more oversight that it is “food-safe” in North America than Pakistan.

      As for microplastics in water, this article has a lot good information: https://cleanwater.org/2020/07/29/bottled-water-human-health-consequences-drinking-plastic

      Because there is so much plastic in the sea, sea water contains microplastics as well and there was a recent study that showed that almost all sea salt (including the fanciest, most expensive French fleur de sel) contains microplastics. That was when I switched to Himalayan bc it’s an ancient deposit that was around before plastics. Here is more info on microplastics in sea salt: https://daveasprey.com/microplastics-sea-salt/

      Reply

      • Tamara says

        Jacobsen tests for micro plastics and is good in that department – you might want to ask them (or a similar company) for their testing and standards on microplastics. I have seen Himalayan come in at 1000 ppb or higher and it is simply not worth the risk for me. Also with all of the greenwashing and deflection spewed out by Redmond (on top of the fact that they sell other products for use by children that they know has unsafe levels of lead) I would NEER buy anything from that company.
        T

        Reply

        • Mary says

          So much info! My filtration system removes all TDS’ that’s why was looking to put trace minerals back in water. Hope to find a good solution!

          Thx everyone for all your help!

          Reply

        • Liz says

          Thank you Tamara for all that info! I had no idea Redmond was like that, thanks for steering me away from it! I looked into the microplastics in Jacobsen and you are right, they do an amazing job! Here is more info in case anyone else is interested: https://jacobsensalt.com/blogs/news/how-jacobsen-salt-co-water-filtration-prevents-microplastics
          They seem like such an upstanding company, they check for a lot of stuff including radiation (someone else was asking about that in your comments as well). It’s such a breath of fresh air when a company is actually proactive and think of checking these types of things themselves and make their results public and easily accessible. Although it’s tricky for me to get it from Canada, I think I will order some and rotate between them and Himalayan for trace elements. I see what you mean about the < 1000 ppb in some Himalayan salts. In your situation you can't take the risk that it's not just that their testing equipment doesn't go lower. Like in the case of Morton's, it so stripped that their < 2000 ppb numbers are very likely to be just because their testing equipment doesn't go lower, but it's true that we can't be sure, especially for the Himalayan.

          Thank you again for everything you do!

          Reply

          • Mary says

            Yes, agree. Tamara, perhaps you can recommend a salt that you feel will allow us to get these trace minerals in our water. I will be using Jacobsen for cooking and finishing.

      • Mary says

        Wow, it’s difficult making a decision, we have to worry about the micro plastics, but the lead in Himalayan, I wonder what his thoughts on lead levels here since he believes “Only use Himalayan salt or Redmond salt, which come from ancient, unpolluted seabeds. Try purple bamboo salt, which may remove impurities during the heating process.”

        Reply

        • Liz says

          I suspect the author of that article was focused on microplastics and didn’t look into lead. It’s tricky to think of everything. I hadn’t thought about radiation from Fukushima, until I read about it on Jacobsen’s website. I also wonder about other heavy metals. It’s a bit of wack-a mole! Jaconsen’s looks like an all around clean solution (see my response to Tamara above), if you can find another way to get Trace elements. I’m still waiting for a response from Concentrace. If that one is good, it could be used as a supplement and to add to water. I suspect that there will be trace amounts of all sorts of heavy metals, but I’m curious to know how much. I think it’s likely impossible to get a natural source of trace (good) elements, without some bad as well. It’s either stripped of everything, or all the naturally occurring ones are there and then each location/source can have a different mix and we can try to find an acceptable one and hope the source is either pretty constant or the company does frequent testing.

          Reply

          • Mary says

            Thx. for all the research. Let me know if you get an answer. Would love to start using the right mineral salt.

          • Chelsea says

            Hi Liz,

            Did you ever receive a response from Concentrace? I use the AquaTru reverse osmosis countertop filtration system, so am also in search of a safe, clean way to remineralize my water. I was thinking about buying the Concentrace drops but wanted to do a little more digging first. Would love to know their response if/when they get back to you. Thanks!

  88. Mary says

    Even though this is on the safe list, couldn’t this change as they dig deeper into the rock? Also, does this have the minerals we are looking for, if so, and the answer to my above question is no re: lead reading changing, wouldn’t this be a good option to get trace minerals in our water?

    Artisan Salt Company Bolivian Rose Andes Mountain Salt, Fine, Zip-Top Pouch, 4 Ounce https://a.co/d/fdI0IDi

    Reply

  90. Ey says

    My hotel uses Sysco salt,any info on that? Also a different brand of Alea Red Hawaiian Sea Salt, but it must come from the same place so lead levels must be the same,

    And in my house I use Kirkland brand

    I had no idea all these salts have so much lead, all of which I’m eatting lots of everyday

    Reply

  91. Brianna walsh says

    I’ve tried to search online for the “ Fusion Matcha Salt: 20 ppb” and I can’t find it. Can you please post a link? Or a picture? I didn’t see any image here that looked like it.

    Reply

  93. Patricia A says

    Anyone have an update on Crucial Four Salt? This seems like the best choice but I’m wondering what Tamara thinks.

    Reply

  94. DT says

    Hi, Thank you for your article!

    It appears Saltworks Pure Ocean Sea Salt current testing (1/18/2023) is at 0.04 ppm or 40 ppb.
    https://seasalt.com/product/view/1041?variantProductId=254
    Spec sheet on that page: https://seasalt.com/attachment/download/2773/63d1a60482498910664627.pdf
    The Spec Sheet is similar to your link attached above so I assume it’s trustworthy.
    It seems to be significantly less expensive purchasing directly from their website than on Amazon.

    Jacobsen Salt Co. sells a much less expensive Trapani Pure Italian Fine Sea Salt which I was hoping would
    be as low as the Salt sourced from Oregon that you have listed, but their FAQ page states 2/5/2021 OMIC USA
    testing found 100 ppb for the Italian salt.

    I recently found Viva Doria Mediterranean Sea Salt on Amazon.com and did reach out to the company and they
    kindly responded in 1 day and said “Hello, we don’t have chemical analysis report available for this salt.”

    Reply

    • Sandra says

      Thank you for this information! I am also budget minded.
      I notice that they didn’t test the salt for radioactivity, and wonder about Australia’s proximity to Japan and Fukushima.

      Reply

  96. Kendra says

    Hi Tamara,
    I appreciate the information provided.
    I came across your website today after doing an internet search about Pink Himalayan salt and hair shedding.
    I recently started making Sole water using Morton’s Pink Himalayan salt and have been adding it to my water for the past month.
    I began noticing my hair shedding a lot more than usual, plus I noticed I’m not able to concentrate, so I started thinking about what changed I made in my diet.
    Then I figured it might be the Pink Himalayan salt. Once I did the research I was alarmed to find out that it has very high levels of lead.
    Thanks for recommending salts that have low levels of lead.
    I noticed that they do not contain Iodine.
    My question is how do you get Iodine into your diet? Can you share what you supplement you use?

    Thanks for your help.

    Reply

  98. Kim says

    Tamara, thank you for the work you do! Did you happen to test other salts by Jacobsen, such as their fine Italian salt? I’m looking for a daily salt and something fine is preferred to the flake salts. By chance do you also test for aluminum? Thank you!!

    Reply

  100. Tim says

    Thank you for the article. I didn’t know this about salt having lead in it until my doctor recently informed me, and what type of salt I should stop using. Been using regular table salt for years, and now I realize a chemical being added to prevent caking is actually made from cyanide – Industrially produced starting with extremely poisonous hydrogen cyanide, yellow prussiate of soda is used in salt and salt substitutes to keep them free-flowing. I want be using the table salt anymore nor any salt that has this Yellow Prussiate of Soda in it.

    Do you have any information regarding Private Selection® Extra Fine Himalayan Pink Salt?
    Private Selection® Himalayan Pink Salt is pure salt found naturally deep within the Himalayan Mountains. Crystallized more than 200 million years ago, its soft pink color comes from ancient sea beds that were covered with lava. This salt makes a great addition to any savory fare.

    Reply

  101. Lori McClintock says

    Hi Tamara, iodine is a necessary nutrient…how does your family get its daily allowance of iodine if it’s not in the salt?
    Thank you for all your testing.

    Reply

    • Pucelle says

      Seaweed is the best natural source for iodine. There’s many different types so try them out to see which you and your family like.

      Reply

  102. Lori says

    Thank you for all the hard work!
    I don’t have access to those brands in the UK.
    Have you heard of Himalayan Rose Pink Fine Salt, brand Profusion? It’s hand harvested in the himalayans..

    Reply

  105. Roy says

    In 2023 Costco’s sea salt is no longer from Brazil’s coast (2020), but Australia (2022).

    Good luck asking Costco for an analysis of heavy metals or the location of the source so you can estimate how clean their salt is.

    Reply

  106. Kay says

    I have been looking at Crucial Four mSalt. They will email you their mineral analysis and COA report if you request. They have 2 products – mSalt and mMinerals. For the mSalt, which is the one I am looking at getting as they are more dense in minerals, the report says:

    Arsenic – <0.06 mg/kg
    Cadmium – <0.004 mg/kg
    Copper – <0.07 mg/kg
    Mercury – <0.007 mg/kg
    Lead – 0.0301 mg/kg

    So after conversion, am I correct to say that lead is at 30 ppb? The only thing is the report did not state when the batch was tested so I have emailed them to clarify again.

    Reply

  109. MaryAnn Lastova says

    Is there an iodized salt brand, sea or traditional, that is low in lead? The Mayo clinic indicates that “unfortified sea salt contains only a small amount of iodine.”
    And many of us no longer consume the level of iodine we used to, in part, because the mandate to iodize breads and baked goods was lifted in the 80’s. Note, particularly, that more than half of U.S pregnant women are indicated as below the recommended 150 mcg/L, in the most recent listed HANES data set, from 2007-2014. The mean for pregnant women, for that time period, is listed as 144 mcg/L. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/

    Reply

    • Pucelle says

      Seaweed is the food that has the highest levels of iodine and it does not take much to meet the guidelines. You just need to be aware of the source.

      That being said, many other vegetables and meats are good sources of iodine. As long as you are eating a healthy varied diet, it is not hard to meet the requirement.

      Reply

  110. Jessica marez says

    Hi Tamara I hope you see my question and if you can please answer I been changing to many safer choices using you link recommendations. I came across the Salk situation and unfortunately my family has been using Costco’s Himalayan salt for years. I want to switch but many of the brand you recommend are out of stock , is the Jacobsen Salt Co. Kosher Sea Salt – Coarse safe ? as you mentioned testing the flaky and it was safe ,

    Reply

  111. anonymous says

    Hello! Thanks so much for this information. Is this list of salt brands with the numbers available as a PDF? I would love to be able to print it out to take with me to the store. If not, I can copy and paste what you have and edit it. Thank you!

    Reply

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