Çankırı Karatekin University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Associate Professor Dr. Hüdayi Ercoşkun provided information about common misconceptions about salt consumption. Ercoşlun, who made recommendations about the quality criteria to be considered when choosing salt, also denied the claims that the body’s iron, calcium and selenium needs can be met with salt. Ercoşkun stated that the criteria to be considered when choosing salt are purity and cleanliness.
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR SALT TO CONTAIN SO MANY MINERALS”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ercoşkun stated that there are 25 minerals in salt whose functions have been accepted and whose research is ongoing, and said, “It is claimed that there are more than 80 minerals in rock salt. However, most of these claimed minerals are minerals that pose serious risks to humans.
There are 16 minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, copper, chromium. There are 25 minerals in total, including those that have not yet been accepted but whose functions in the human body have been investigated. Therefore, it is not possible for a salt to contain so many minerals.
“The elements claimed to be minerals in salt are in very low amounts or almost non-existent when compared to human needs,” he said.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY CRITERIA IS PURITY AND CLEANLINESS”
Ercoşkun, who said that no salt is a source of calcium, iron or selenium, said, “All rock salts in Turkey contain around 50 milligrams per kilogram, or 50 PPM, of magnesium. With a daily salt consumption of 5 grams, we can meet our magnesium needs of around 0.1-0.2 per thousand from salt. This is null and void.
“Magnesium of 0.1 per thousand is not magnesium. Other elements are like that. No salt is a source of calcium, iron, selenium. The most important quality criterion of salt is its purity and cleanliness,” he said.
(UAV)