The truth about white sea salt and whether the common belief that it is highly refined like iodized salt is accurate.
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you likely know that my favorite brand of sea salt is Baja Gold.
I’ve used it for many years.
Baja Gold is the cleanest sea salt compared to other brands due to the unique geography where it is harvested.
Extensive lab testing has consistently verified how pristine it is!
Besides being uncontaminated, Baja Gold is the richest sea salt (by far) in trace minerals.
This results in the most flavorful cooking.
It is also ideal for making the potent electrolyte supplement known as solé water.
Recently, I noticed that the Baja Gold sea salt that I had purchased was whiter than the typical greyish color I’d observed for years.
A few of you noticed this too and reached out about it.
To answer this question, I contacted Michael Sileck, President and owner of Baja Gold Salt Company.
What I learned was very interesting and provided important nuance to the common belief within the health community that white sea salt is just sodium.
Is this true? Is white sea salt devoid of trace minerals just like toxic refined white (iodized) salt?
**Michael Sileck gave me permission to share this email conversation.
Hi Sarah:
Thanks for your note! I hope you’re doing well.
As Baja Gold has grown, we’ve worked with our production partners to create a more consistent and pure product for our customers.
We are now harvesting exclusively from the center of our ponds (‘salt flats’), and are taking only the very top layer of the salt brine. This creates a more mineral rich product (Magnesium and Potassium in particular), and also results in a salt that is whiter in color.
So, rest assured your Baja Gold is still unrefined and mineral rich! Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Michael
In summary, if the brand of sea salt you use is white in color, this is not always a sign that it has been refined.
It can indicate a higher amount of some macro minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
Thus, it is important to contact the company directly about their specific harvesting process.
In the case of Baja Gold sea salt, the whitish color is an indication of higher levels of magnesium and potassium as well as the dozens of other elements, including trace elements that are difficult if not impossible to obtain via food and yet are critical for enzymatic reactions in the body.
Alina
What do you think of this salt https://maisonorphee.com/en/collections/sels-de-mer-1/products/sel-de-mer-gros-gris ?
Thank you
Lynn Beam
I have been following you for years and was about to order Baja Gold, but found a recent article from Lead Safe Mama claiming that the lead levels in this particular salt are quite elevated. Can you please respond to this claim? I greatly respect your opinion. Thanks!
Sarah Pope
Lead Safe Mama is often wrong with her accusations. For example, she has accused Vitaclay for years of having lead in its product despite year after year of clean lab tests proving otherwise. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/vitaclay-slow-cookers-heavy-metal-tests/
Baja Gold is also NOT contaminated with lead as demonstrated by numerous objective and independent lab tests.
I would not take information from that site seriously.
Lara Baumann
I really like this salt and use it regularly, but I recently saw a study showing it high in lead and arsenic. Can you address that? I really appreciate your articles and knowledge. Thanks!
Sarah Pope
Baja Gold is NOT high in lead as demonstrated by independent, objective lab tests. Those accusations are false. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/truth-about-lead-sea-salt/
Cindy Wilson
Have you read the recent lead report from leadsafemama.com about Baja Gold Salt? Is this the same salt you are posting about?
Sarah Pope
Baja Gold is NOT high in lead as demonstrated by numerous independent, objective lab tests. Those accusations are false. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/truth-about-lead-sea-salt/
She does not have a good track record over the years and has often accused brands of containing lead where there was none. Beware who you follow! https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/vitaclay-slow-cookers-heavy-metal-tests/