Does sea salt contain microplastics from ocean pollution?

What's actually in it

Sea salt comes from evaporated ocean water. The problem is that oceans now contain trillions of microplastic particles from broken-down bottles, bags, synthetic clothing fibers, and industrial waste. When seawater evaporates to make salt, those tiny plastic fragments stay behind in the crystals. Every time you season your food with sea salt, you're likely adding a small dose of plastic.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Mar Pollut Bull found microplastics in sea salt samples and discovered something extra: the plastic particles acted as tiny rafts for dangerous bacteria. The researchers tested what happened when living organisms were exposed to these contaminated salt particles. The microplastics amplified the growth of pathogenic Vibrio bacteria and caused developmental harm in the test organisms.

This means sea salt microplastics aren't just inert bits of plastic. They can carry hitchhiking germs and chemicals into your food. The surface of each particle picks up whatever is floating in the water around it, from bacteria to heavy metals to organic pollutants.

How much plastic are you eating? Estimates vary, but if you use sea salt daily, it adds to your total microplastic intake from food, water, and air. Mined rock salt and Himalayan salt don't pass through ocean water, so they tend to contain fewer microplastics. Choosing those options can reduce one small but steady source of plastic in your diet.