Lorraine Williamson
Salt may be one of the oldest and most trusted kitchen ingredients, but a disturbing truth is now coming to light — the grains sprinkled on dinner plates across Spain may carry more than flavour.
Researchers have found that Spanish table salt, whether sourced from coastal pans or inland reserves, contains traces of microplastics. These invisible fragments of synthetic material are becoming a daily part of our diets.
Microplastics, defined as particles smaller than 5mm, are now found in air, oceans, soil, and, alarmingly, in our food. In Spain, where salt production is both a tradition and a booming industry, recent studies have revealed just how embedded these pollutants have become in even the most basic of kitchen staples.
Every pinch counts — and so does the plastic
According to European researchers, a single kilogram of table salt can contain an average of 500 microplastic particles. Depending on your intake, this translates to swallowing between three and nine fragments of plastic every day — all without realising. While that might not sound like much, over the course of a year, it adds up to thousands of microplastic particles ingested simply through seasoning.
In a new study, scientists analysed six salt pans across Spain — three by the sea and three inland. They examined every step of the extraction process through to the final product. What they discovered was sobering! Microplastics infiltrate salt from the moment seawater or spring water enters the basins, right through to the packaging stage.
Even in remote, long-abandoned salt pans, where human activity is minimal, plastic fragments were present. Some of the most polluted water samples reached 1,500 microplastic particles per litre. This points not just to waterborne contamination, but also to airborne plastic pollution — highlighting how pervasive the problem has become.
Ancient methods, modern threats
Salt harvesting in Spain hasn’t changed much in centuries. Seawater or spring water is funnelled into large, shallow ponds where evaporation — aided by sun and wind — leaves behind salt crystals ready for collection. But the simplicity of this ancient process offers no defence against modern contaminants. The very air and water surrounding the salt pans are now vectors for microscopic plastic waste.
Interestingly, salt harvested from protected natural environments showed lower concentrations of microplastics, suggesting that location plays a significant role in contamination levels. Coastal pans located in heavily populated or industrial areas are particularly vulnerable. Meanwhile, inland pans fed by ancient aquifers — once thought to be purer — still showed contamination by the time the salt was packaged.
Why it matters for health
While research into the full health impacts of microplastic consumption is ongoing, early findings are troubling. Studies have already detected plastic particles in the human bloodstream, lungs, arteries, and even placentas. Scientists suspect these tiny invaders may be contributing to inflammation, hormonal disruptions, and cardiovascular problems.
The fact that plastic is being absorbed into such vital areas of the body — and possibly interfering with how it functions — is a red flag. And because microplastics carry toxins, their long-term presence in the body could pose risks far beyond mere discomfort.
What can you do?
While the scale of the issue calls for systemic change, there are individual steps that can reduce your exposure. Choosing salt sourced from protected nature reserves or verified domestic producers may lower your intake of microplastics. Opting for rock salt or salts labelled as purified or filtered can also help.
For example, I opt for a salt that carries the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. It’s certified and harvested using traditional methods from the Atlantic Ocean, where seawater flows through a designated Natural Marine Reserve — an area untouched by industrial pollution. The salt forms naturally through evaporation and is collected by hand every fortnight with wooden rakes. Once gathered, it’s left to dry in the open air on the pans before being stored — a process that preserves both its purity and its heritage.
However, consumer choice alone won’t solve the problem. Plastic pollution is now so widespread that even remote salt pans are affected. Addressing the issue means tackling plastic waste at its source, regulating airborne pollutants, and rethinking how essential foods like salt are produced and tested.
Time to rethink what we’re eating
Microplastics in salt are not a niche concern — they’re part of a larger, growing crisis that’s infiltrating our food chain. If salt, one of the most basic staples in our diets, is now laced with plastic, it’s a wake-up call for consumers, regulators, and industries alike.
Until meaningful policies are put in place to address environmental contamination, every pinch of salt carries more than just seasoning — it may come with a side of plastic too.
Source: El Español