Archive for the ‘Potassium Ferrocyanide’ tag
Conversation about salt…with a pinch of salt
Today I met Ramesh. He runs a salt plant in Chennai, India (a family business for more than 100 years) and he gave me some really interesting perspective on this common thing that everyone needs. Here is the abridged version of the conversation I had with him:
Me: Why do we just have iodized salt? Is there something unique about salt that iodine is mixed with it and not with say, cookies, bread, and milk?
Ramesh: Based on some research it was found that salt is the most common food item of all. Moreover many people are allergic to milk and other food items, or they do not like cookies, and so on. But salt is one food that is consumed by all communities in the world. So it was decided that iodine, an important mineral required by our body, should be mixed with salt in order to ensure regular consumption.
Me: Is it important to consume iodized salt to get iodine?
Ramesh: Most people get the necessary iodine from their food, so it may not be necessary to have iodized salt for iodine requirements. Typically iodized salt is important for people who live in hills and mountains because the iodine in the soil is very low (gets washed away). But people living at sea level typically get their necessary requirement from other food items and thus do not need iodized salt.
Me: How do you make “free flowing” salt?
Ramesh: There are many additives included in the salt that prevents caking of salt, making it free flowing. One such chemical is Potassium Ferrocyanide. We have achieved a better way of making it free flowing without such additives.
Me: What’s the concept of refined salt?
Ramesh: Refined as the term suggests is basically almost pure sodium chloride with necessary additives such as iodine. When salt is first retrieved from evaporating sea water, it is in crystallized form with some impurities and many other minerals such as magnesium and calcium. This salt is then further processed to remove the impurities and other minerals to refine the salt. That is refined salt.
The Pinch
Me: So is it good to have refined or unrefined salt?
Ramesh: Actually, unrefined salt free of impurities is better. First, you get necessary minerals such as magnesium and calcium along with the salt. Second, because unrefined in stronger in concentration, you require a lesser amount than refined. Thus is economical in the long run. In fact having unrefined salt will help you avoid expenses on all the magnesium and calcium tablets that you purchase to meet dietary requirements. Third, to many people, unrefined will taste better.
It is possible that some governments and health agencies are just catering to the big companies who want to sell all these unnecessary tablets and capsules by regulating the salt requirements. The expected salt intake was recently doubled by some agency. Possibly to sell more of this commodity by further refining it and diluting the strength.
My question to you: Can you imagine that refined salt is yet another scam? Do you think it is possible? Or do you think – its better to be safe than sorry? Thoughts?
