Can microplastics in sea salt carry harmful bacteria and affect development?

What's actually in it

Sea salt is harvested from evaporated ocean water, which is contaminated with microplastics from global plastic pollution. During the evaporation process, plastic particles concentrate in the remaining salt. The microplastics in sea salt can also carry bacteria that hitch a ride on their surface.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Mar Pollut Bull tested sea salt-associated microplastics and found they could amplify pathogenic Vibrio bacteria and impair development in brine shrimp, a model organism. The microplastics served as vehicles for harmful bacteria, making the biological impact worse than either the plastic or bacteria alone.

While the study used an animal model, it shows that microplastics in salt aren't just inert particles. They can carry and concentrate harmful microbes that end up in your food.

Consider using mined rock salt or Himalayan salt instead of sea salt if you're concerned about microplastics. Use a salt grinder with a ceramic or steel mechanism rather than a plastic one.