Does sea salt get contaminated with microplastics during production, not just from the ocean water?
What the Evidence Shows
What we've found so far is that microplastic contamination in sea salt may not come only from ocean water — some of it could be introduced during the production and handling process [1]. Our analysis of the available research suggests the way sea salt is processed, dried, packaged, and stored might add to the microplastic content after the salt is harvested [1].
The evidence we've reviewed leans toward the idea that contamination happens at multiple points, not just in the ocean. While we often focus on polluted seawater as the source, the production process itself may contribute plastic particles . This could include plastic equipment, airborne microplastics in factories, or packaging materials that shed tiny fragments. However, we are still early in understanding exactly how much each step adds.
Based on what we've reviewed so far, all the evidence points to post-harvest factors playing a role, but we don’t yet have detailed data on how significant this is compared to ocean pollution. There are no studies in our current analysis that contradict this view, but the total number of assessments is limited.
We don’t yet know how much microplastic exposure comes from salt versus other foods or how it affects health over time. But we do know that contamination isn’t just about where the salt comes from — it may also depend on how it’s made and packaged.
Practical takeaway: If you're concerned about microplastics in sea salt, how the salt is processed and packaged might matter just as much as the source of the water it came from.