Natural Good Life Interviews Salt of the Earth

Addressing Concerns About Celtic Sea Salt and Lead

With growing concerns about Celtic Sea Salt potentially containing lead, we reached out to the owner of Salt of the Earth for clarity. Here’s what she had to say in response to the recent concerns. 

Natural Good Life (NGL): There’s been a lot of buzz about Celtic Sea Salt containing lead. Can you explain how your salt is processed and whether there are any risks of contamination?

Salt of the Earth (SE): Our Celtic Sea Salt is proudly certified by Nature et Progrès in Europe, a stringent certification that is only achieved through small-scale production. Our salt is harvested from saltwater marshes in the Atlantic, where seawater flows directly from the ocean and crystallises naturally on a clay surface through the processes of sun and wind evaporation. It’s collected by hand and no artificial processes such as washing, chemical additives, bleaching or anti-binders are allowed. The ocean itself acts as a natural purifier, and the plant and sea life contribute to this process. Where we harvest our salt is the first point of contact with land after the Atlantic Drift, ensuring clean, fresh water.

NGL: How do you ensure the salt is free from pollutants and contaminants like heavy metals?

SE: We pay close attention to the geographical location of our salt basins to minimise the risk of pollution. We harvest our salt away from any industrial areas and ensure that the water flow is uncontaminated. As part of our Nature et Progrès certification, we are required to test our salt regularly for heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates, bacteria, hydrocarbons, pesticides and even radioactivity. The acceptable levels set by Nature et Progrès are half of the maximum levels established by food standards programmes and I’m pleased to say our salt exceeds both standards. These tests are conducted quarterly to ensure ongoing safety and quality.

NGL: There have also been concerns about microplastics in sea salt. How does Salt of the Earth address this issue?

SE: Microplastics in sea salt are a genuine concern and I always encourage people to educate themselves about the source of their salt. In 2018, National Geographic published a study performed by Greenpeace East Asia, which tested 39 brands of salt from around the world. Only three salts were found to be free from microplastics. One of these was from France, produced by unrefined solar evaporation – the same process we use for our Salt of the Earth products. By choosing unrefined salt, our customers receive the full spectrum of minerals from the sea, without worrying about microplastic contamination.

NGL: Some customers have asked if Celtic Sea Salt could still contain trace amounts of lead. How do you respond to these concerns?

SE: I understand the concern, especially with so much misinformation being spread. To provide peace of mind, I decided to test my own lead levels. I’ve been using, inhaling and consuming Celtic Sea Salt daily for 24 years. Every morning, I drink around a quarter of a teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt in my water, cook with it and garnish all of my meals with it. If anyone were to have high lead levels from Celtic Sea Salt, it would be me. I’m happy to report that my blood test results came back showing lead levels below detectable limits, well below any concerning threshold. This should reassure customers that Celtic Sea Salt, as we produce it, is entirely safe.

NGL: That is reassuring to hear. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our customers?

SE: I’d like to emphasise that we pride ourselves on transparency and quality. Our salt undergoes rigorous testing and is harvested with the utmost care to ensure purity. It’s free from synthetic additives, preservatives and artificial processes. Our goal is to provide customers with a product that retains the full mineral content of the sea, while ensuring it remains safe from contaminants. If anyone has further concerns, we’re always happy to discuss them!

At Natural Good Life, we trust and stand by the products we stock and proud of the quality of Salt of the Earth Celtic Sea Salt.

Enjoy the full benefits of natural, mineral-rich salt with confidence!