# Consequences of not using iodized salt anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902 "2016-12-17T01:03:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/1 "2016-12-17T01:03:40Z")
Now that everyone is using sea salt, Himalayan salt, gray salt, _fleurs de sel_, kosher salt, etc., instead of good, old-fashioned iodized table salt, are we going to suffer from a shortage of iodine? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/2 "2016-12-17T05:41:10Z")
I was surprised to see that normal Morton’s salt is no longer iodized. When did that happen? Is my thyroid in mortal danger? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/3 "2016-12-17T06:12:09Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I was surprised to see that normal Morton’s salt is no longer iodized. When did that happen? Is my thyroid in mortal danger? Morton’s website says their basic salt is “available in both plain and iodized,” but they only display the plain box. Certainly the box of Morton’s in my cupboard is iodized. But then it’s also eight years old. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/4 "2016-12-17T06:54:13Z")
I personally take a multi-vitamin which includes 100% of minimum daily requirements for iodine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/5 "2016-12-17T14:51:32Z")
[This page](https://draxe.com/iodine-deficiency/) has a TON of information about the benefits of and need for iodine, symptoms of iodine deficiency. > [@](#): > > Unlike nutrients such as calcium, iron or vitamins, iodine does not occur naturally in specific foods; rather, it is present in the soil and is ingested through foods grown on that soil. In the early 1920s, Switzerland was the first country to fortify table salt with iodine to control cretinism and endemic goiter. In the 1970s and 1980s, controlled studies showed that iodine supplementation before and during pregnancy not only improved cognitive function in the rest of the population, but eliminated new cases of cretinism. > … Iodine deficiency is indeed possible with the kind of food we’re eating these days: [The Truth About Sea Salt](http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/the-truth-about-sea-salt) > [@](#): > > A note on iodine > > Iodine is crucial for thyroid health and proper cognitive development, and its addition to salt slashed rates of iodine deficiency dramatically. But new evidence suggests that people are getting less iodine in their diets these days. Psychology Today reported last year that until recently, about 25 percent of the iodine in the diet came from wheat (because iodine was used in the processing of flour). With a change in commercial flour production, bromide is now used, which not only decreases the iodine we consume, but it may actually block the activity of the iodine we are getting elsewhere. > > In addition, a University of Texas at Arlington study published by the American Chemical Society found varying degrees of actual iodine in iodized salt, with many of the samples having much less iodine than the amount listed or recommended. Add in that only one-fifth of the salt consumed in the United States is iodized, and you can understand the potential for a perfect storm for iodine deficiency. > > So if you opt for sea salt, there are companies (like Hain and Morton) that fortify their sea salt with iodine. As well, whatever salt you use, make a point to eat iodine-rich foods. … [This site](http://iodineresearch.com/debunked.html)basically says iodized salt won’t give you enough iodine anyway. So get it from diet or supplements. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/6 "2016-12-17T15:05:42Z")
I’m muddying the water here… [this site](http://www.consumerreports.org/vitamins-supplements/never-take-thyroid-supplements/) says don’t take iodine supplements as you’re likely to get too much iodine. The body’s requirement is tiny and “most people” get enough in their diet. I’m confused. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/7 "2016-12-17T15:49:19Z")
You’d have to have a pretty odd diet to avoid Iodine. First, no processed food. Salt in major amounts is in a lot of stuff. So you’re making your own food from scratch. And from ingredients grown in certain regions only. And on and on. You would have to basically make a lot of conscious decisions to completely avoid common sources of Iodine. I don’t know what it is, but Kosher salt just tastes so much better than the common stuff. And still I’m probably getting a lot more iodized salt than I should. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/8 "2016-12-17T21:04:49Z")
I doubt it’s a concern before the fallout comes. I make pickles and prefer non-iodized salt for that. Plenty of specialty salts have their uses. But salt is in most of the processed or restaurant foods you consume already, and much of it is iodized. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/9 "2016-12-17T21:26:43Z")
I see that Morton’s is now selling iodized sea salt on Amazon. I don’t think I’ve seen that in stores though. How do we know that processed food is iodized? Is iodized salt cheaper? Because I’m pretty sure McDonald’s uses the very cheapest salt on their fries. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/10 "2016-12-17T21:49:40Z")
Maybe back in the 20s when salt was first iodized, people’s diets weren’t as varied as they are now, so there was a greater chance of iodine deficiency than we face today. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/11 "2016-12-17T21:49:59Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Morton’s website says their basic salt is “available in both plain and iodized,” but they only display the plain box. Certainly the box of Morton’s in my cupboard is iodized. But then it’s also eight years old. Must be well-preserved. What do you use to keep it good for so long? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/12 "2016-12-17T22:58:11Z")
There is iodine in eggs, fish, dairy products and many vegetables. Many processed foods are made with non-iodized salt. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/13 "2016-12-18T00:06:24Z")
I am not convinced that we have been altogether successful in eliminating cases of cretinism. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/14 "2016-12-18T00:40:50Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I am not convinced that we have been altogether successful in eliminating cases of cretinism. Hmmm…you could be right… ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/15 "2016-12-18T06:39:04Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Must be well-preserved. What do you use to keep it good for so long? Salt, by its very nature, inherently preserves itself. Why else do you think that our ancestors used salt to preserve meat? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/16 "2016-12-18T06:55:50Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Salt, by its very nature, inherently preserves itself. Why else do you think that our ancestors used salt to preserve meat? The iodide added to salt sublimes into the air fairly quickly if not sealed. Eight-year-old salt in the cupboard probably isn’t very iodized anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/17 "2016-12-18T07:10:50Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Salt, by its very nature, inherently preserves itself. Why else do you think that our ancestors used salt to preserve meat? Also, it’s a rock. Rocks don’t go bad. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/18 "2016-12-18T07:35:57Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Salt, by its very nature, inherently preserves itself. Why else do you think that our ancestors used salt to preserve meat? Woosh! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/19 "2016-12-18T17:10:28Z")
You should never use iodized salt except at the table. Heating it often produces a bitter/chemical flavor, and in things like pickling, it can react with the other ingredients to produce off results. Sprinkle it on, don’t cook or bake with it. Processed food is very unlikely to use iodized salt for those reasons. Cargill produces something like 50 varieties of commercial cooking salt, nearly all of which are pure NaCl but come in different forms that react differently in different large-batch uses (from powdered like confectioner’s sugar, to “snowflakes,” to large coarse grains and everything in between). But I’d bet very little iodized salt is used anywhere in the food industry except perhaps in things like potato chip coatings. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902/20 "2016-12-18T17:30:23Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Must be well-preserved. What do you use to keep it good for so long? I put a piece of meat in mine. Works great. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-not-using-iodized-salt-anymore/774902.md?page=2)