Are you as excited as we are to get cookin' for holiday season? Whether it's the roast turkey, the sweet and salty glazed holiday ham, or the spicy eggnog that goes with the dessert, we cannot wait to dip our noses into those mouth watering recipes.
But did you know that your favorite seasoning might be hiding a little secret? Well, hold onto your salt shakers, because we're about to share some surprising facts about the world of microplastics in salt and seasonings!
What are Microplastics in the First Place?
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are below 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in size. Microplastics fit into one of two categories.
Primary microplastics are intentionally produced for commercial use. They include things like microbeads in cosmetics or those small pellets you might know from fake grass or the playground. This includes production spillage of plastic pellets and other raw material.
Secondary microplastics on the other hand come from bigger pieces of plastic trash that break down.
The next time you're at the beach, keep an eye out for plastic trash (unfortunately, you won't have to look hard) and you will see that the abrasion from the sand and waves slowly corrodes the bigger plastic items and produces a fine plastic dust as a result.
The tricky part about microplastics is: Those tiny suckers are everywhere. And They have long found their way into our food.
The Salty Truth
So, here's the scoop: microplastics have been crashing our seaside parties and sneaking into our salt shakers. Yep, you heard that right! These tiny plastic party crashers are showing up in sea salt and other ocean-derived seasonings.
Imagine the ocean as a giant soup pot, and unfortunately, we humans have been tossing in a few too many plastic ingredients. As these plastics break down, they turn into microplastics. When sea salt is produced, these sneaky little plastic bits tag along for the ride.
This isn't just a local flavor – it's a worldwide phenomenon! Studies have found that about 90% of table salt brands contain these tiny plastic crashers
Seasoning Smarter: Tips and Tricks
Now, before you swear off salt forever, let's add some perspective to this salty situation. While it's true that microplastics are hanging out in our seasonings, the amounts are generally pretty small.
So, no need to go cold turkey on your favorite spices just yet!
Nonetheless, there are some super simple things you can do to reduce the risk of adding plastic to your diet.
- Go for the rock star: Rock salt might be your new best friend! It comes from inland seas that evaporated throusands or millions of years ago, long before those sneaky microplastics polluted the world.
- Loose leaf love: When it comes to tea, ditch the bags and embrace the loose leaf life. It's not just fancy – it's microplastic-free!
- Spice up your storage: Store your seasonings in glass containers. It's not just Instagram-worthy – it helps keep additional plastics out of your spices
- DIY seasoning star: Channel your inner chef and mix up your own seasoning blends. It's fun, fresh, and gives you more control over what's shaking in your shaker!
- Go fresh: Fresh herbs and spices are less likely to contain microplastics and they are a beautiful addition to your kitchen ledge.
The Bright Side of the Shaker
Remember, knowledge is power – and now you're armed with the saltiest secrets in town! While we can't completely eliminate microplastics from our lives (yet), we can definitely take steps to reduce our exposure.
And hey, maybe this is the perfect excuse to experiment with new, exciting flavors in the kitchen!So, keep calm and season on.
With a little awareness and a dash of creativity, we can still enjoy our culinary adventures while keeping those sneaky microplastics at bay. Now, who's ready to get cooking?
We hope you enjoyed this article. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you want to engage in the discussion.
If you want to read more like this, make sure to check out our Blog and follow us on Instagram. If you are interested in truly sustainable products, check out our Shop.
