redmond real salt

after a conversation with my mom a few weeks ago, i've been paranoid that my children and i are gonna develop disfunctioning thyroids.  why?  because we don't used iodized salt.  for at least a year, we've used sea salt - not the kind that is "enhanced" with the "necessary nutrient" iodine (i use it in quotes because that is what the salt container says).

this week, i ran out of coarse salt which is the salt i use when i am cooking.  it is easily pinch-able and i like that.  in browsing the shelf for a new container of salt, i ran across redmond's real salt.  i picked it up despite the whopping expensive price on it.  i guess i was wondering why it was so expensive, but i was quick to see that it claimed to have natural iodine in it.

first of all, lets discuss how SALT is made.  the redmond's real salt package pretty accurately describes the way salt is made in nature. [my additions in red and as crossouts]  

"In ancient times, a great salt-saturated sea existed near where Redmond, Utah is now located.  Water from the sea eventually evaporated, leaving a bed of rock salt where it lay undisturbed for thousands of years. At some point, during the earth's Jurassic era, a range of volcanoes erupted around the ancient sea bed, sealing the salt with layers of thick volcanic ash, protecting these precious deposits against the pollution that man would eventually introduce into the environment. Redmond extracts this salt from deep within the earth and brings to us its pure, natural state-without any additives, chemicals, or heat processing."

how is salt manufactured???  it begins as a saline solution which is then processed and kiln dryied at temperatures of 350-400 degrees. nearly all trace minerals are lost. chemicals are then used to bleach the salt, prevent caking and make it free flowing.

 

i'm not sure whether it was the use of the word "jurrasic" or the fact it is a US product - or maybe that it is a salt that is not kiln dried and unprocessed - but anyway, i bought it despite its price.  it definitely looks different than my old salt (it isn't as brown as the picture) and isn't as coarse, but i will try it out.  i tasted it and it tastes, well, like salt.  i'll report back later if there is really any taste difference (like when i put it on something other than my finger).

here's to a daily dose of iodine.