Heavy Metals in Unrefined Sea Salts

At Colima Salt Co, we prioritize quality and safety. With increasing discussions about heavy metal content in unrefined sea salts, we want to provide clear and transparent information on this topic. This article includes multiple third-party laboratory test results to help you make informed food choices with confidence.

Most importantly, we want to reaffirm that Colima Salt Co products remain pure and safe. As a family-owned business, we enjoy Colima Salt Co salt in our daily lives with our friends and loved ones. We are confident that our salt is not only safe but also a nutritious alternative to processed table salts and other varieties.

For the latest third-party testing results, visit our website: Colima Salt Co | The Mineral Lab. Our goal is to provide full transparency so you can make the best choices for you and your family.

Heavy Metals in Our Environment

Heavy metals—including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury—are naturally occurring elements found in air, water, and soil. As a result, trace amounts of these elements are present in nearly all food sources.

Lead is often the most prevalent among these elements, primarily because it is naturally abundant in the Earth's crust. While its presence is unavoidable, we can make informed choices about limiting exposure through a balanced diet.

Lead in Food

Government regulations establish permissible levels of heavy metals, including lead, across various food types. These limits vary based on consumption levels—foods consumed in larger quantities, like water, have stricter standards compared to those consumed in smaller amounts, like salt.

When reviewing heavy metal regulations, it's important to check the specific food product, relevant standards, and whether they are officially established, proposed, or not enacted.

Colima Salt Co consistently tests well below all national and international heavy metal standards, including CODEX and Prop 65 requirements. According to CODEX standards, the lead limit for table salt is 1 ppm (1,000 ppb), while the limit for natural, unrefined sea salt is 2 ppm (2,000 ppb). Our products remain well below these limits.

Colima Salt Co Test Results

Colima Salt Co produces all-natural, unrefined sea salt from the pristine waters of the Sea of Cortez. Our salt is exclusively solar-dried and remains completely unprocessed, ensuring nothing is ever added. We harvest from the upper salt layers of hardened sea salt flats, providing the purest and most mineral-rich sea salt available.

As an unrefined sea salt, Colima Salt Co naturally contains all the minerals and trace elements found in ocean water. While seasonal variations occur, decades of testing have confirmed a consistent range of macronutrients, trace minerals, and ultra-trace heavy metals in our salt.

Historically, and supported by recent testing, our lead content falls within the following ranges:

Lower Bound: 0 – 99 ppb (< 0.1 ppm)
Mid Bound: 100 – 299 ppb (0.1 - 0.299 ppm)
Upper Bound: 300 – 399 ppb (0.3 - 0.399 ppm)

Given that CODEX standards allow 1 ppm for table salt and 2 ppm for natural, unrefined sea salt, Colima Salt Co exceeds these standards by at least 2x, and often 4–8x.

Summary & Additional Information

Heavy metals, including lead, are naturally present in trace amounts throughout our environment—in soil, water, salts, produce, and other whole foods. The human body is naturally equipped to manage these trace and ultra-trace elements within the context of a balanced diet. While we do not seek out these elements, it’s important to understand their relative impact.

We are fully confident in the safety and purity of Colima Salt Co products and remain transparent with all testing results to support your confidence as well. If heavy metals are a specific concern for you, we understand that Colima Salt Co may not be the right choice.

For any additional information or just to say hello, feel free to reach out to us at: info@colimasaltco.com.

All the best from our family to yours.
— The Colima Salt Co Team

Visit The Mineral Lab for the most up-to-date test results: Colima Salt Co | The Mineral Lab.