Abstract
The major components, trace elements, ferrocyanide, and viable cell number in common brands of salt were measured. Many types of domestic salt had a significant content of bittern, a lower purity of sodium chloride and less insoluble matter than the imported types. Some imported solar salts containedsignificant insoluble matter which resulted in contamination by heavy metals. Three of the analyzed samples included more than 0.5 mg/kg of arsenic (the maximum limit according to the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt) and two samples contained lead or cadmium, Samples with high concentrations of copper, chromium, nickel, andzinc were also found. None of viable cells were detected in all the measured samples, and ferrocyanide ion was contained in four of the imported samples.
