WOODINVILLE, Wash., May 10, 2007 — Following a prolonged battle that wreaked havoc on consumers' health and tastebuds, refined salt — also known as table salt — has passed away. It leaves behind a healthier, more flavorful cousin: sea salt.
OK, so no one will ever actually write an obituary about refined salt, but the fact remains that table salt is obsolete and it isn't coming back, according to Mark Zoske, founder of SaltWorks, Inc. That may sound like a liberal sprinkling of hype from a man who makes his living selling sea salt, but evidence supporting the demise of refined salt is everywhere.
"The sea salt revolution is rapidly gaining momentum," Zoske explained. "Manufacturers are already starting to replace refined salt with natural sea salt. Sea salt will soon take the place of refined salt not just in gourmet foods and specialty stores, but in frozen dinners, canned foods, snacks and even fast food."
Interest in sea salt by consumers and the food industry alike is fervent, now that refined salt is widely acknowledged as harmful to most people's health. SaltWorks receives hundreds of calls and e-mails every week from food manufacturers, restaurants and chain stores ready to make the switch now.
Still, Zoske says, there are many more companies that have yet to see the light, and he's happy to educate them on exactly what they are putting into their foods.
"The chemical companies that sell refined salts boast that their salts are 99.9% pure sodium chloride," said Zoske. "The refining process removes most, if not all, of the trace minerals naturally found in sea salt. The taste becomes harsher, and the health benefits are lost. Today educated consumers view the word ‘salt' as a negative ingredient on nutrition labels, but they see ‘sea salt' as a healthy, addition."
There is good reason for that, nutritionally and environmentally speaking. Unrefined sea salt is sea water evaporated by the sun and wind into natural sea salt crystals, full of trace minerals, while sodium chloride is refined using intense heat, chemical cleaning, bleaching compounds and anti-caking agents in large manufacturing operations. The resulting chemical bears little likeness in taste or appearance to genuine sea salt.
"Sea salt is not a fad," said Zoske. "Its use is a paradigm shift, a permanent change driven by consumers who know foods are healthier and tastier with sea salt. They do not want refined salts in their food, and more manufacturers are getting that message loud and clear."
About SaltWorks®, Inc.
The most trusted name in the salt business, SaltWorks has been satisfying salt enthusiasts around the world since 2001. Serving wholesale, distributor, and bulk customers as well as individual consumers, SaltWorks offers a superior selection of the highest quality all-natural sea and mineral salts in a range of exact grain sizes and quantities to suit any application. The first and largest specialty salt company in the world, SaltWorks truly pioneered the gourmet salt business and produces the finest brands including Artisan® Salt Company, Fusion® naturally flavored salts, Ancient Ocean® Himalayan Pink Salt, Pure Ocean® Atlantic Sea Salt, Pacific Blue® Kosher Flake Sea Salt, Ultra Epsom® and Bokek® Premium Dead Sea Salt. SaltWorks continues to revolutionize the natural salt industry with their steadfast dedication to innovation, product integrity and world-class customer service. Proudly certified SQF level 2 with an Excellent rating, SaltWorks is also fully HAACP and GMP accredited by NSF International®. All SaltWorks products are all natural, kosher certified and guaranteed for purity and quality.
Discover the SaltWorks Difference and shop the best sea salts in the world at www.seasalt.com.