# What happened to iodized salt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975 "2020-05-17T13:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/21 "2020-05-17T18:48:09Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If the source of iodine in the salt is shellfish how could the salt be Kosher? Shellfish contain iodine because they live in seawater, which is relatively rich in dissolved iodine. Most sea salts contain some iodine. Which is why folks living near the sea rarely had iodine deficiency, as their salt had some, as did kelp, and local seafood. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/22 "2020-05-17T18:52:03Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yes, all salt is kosher, whether iodized or not. Kosher salt is a misnomer. It’s called that because it’s the type of salt traditionally used for drying kosher meats. Iodized salt has some dextrose as a vehicle and stabilizer for the iodine. The dextrose is not kosher for Passover. Iodine is not a problem but the carrier is. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/23 "2020-05-17T19:18:27Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Eggs, onions, jalapeños, cuke’s, garlic. I am very curious, how do you use pickled garlic? I am pretty sure I have never tried it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/24 "2020-05-17T19:22:01Z")
> [@vonespy](#): > > Kosher salt seems to be a current thing with foodie types (with the exception of Cook’s Illustrated/Cook’s Country which seems to be just ducky with iodine). Kosher salt is coarser but breaks into tinier pieces when crushed, unlike sea salt which is one large grain of salt. (and neither sea nor kosher have iodine. Sorry, talk about burying the lede.) It’s not some kind of dumb foodie thing; it’s more that kosher salt’s larger and rougher grains are easier to pick up with your fingers and add manually than table salt. In other words, if you’re salting to taste, it’s easier to pick up and manipulate the kosher salt than it is table salt, which tends to be harder to pick up in any quantity, and harder to control as you sprinkle it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/25 "2020-05-17T19:40:52Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > With a medically significant thing like this, the answer is often “morons.” Why is the vaccination rate falling? Morons. Why are people complaining about floridation of water? Morons. Why is there opposition to GMOs? Morons. So I wouldn’t be suprised if morons have decided iodine is bad and the market is supporting them. Well cookbooks and cooking shows often specify Kosher salt or sea salt instead of iodized salt. In a clear broth you might be able to tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/26 "2020-05-17T19:41:29Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > With a medically significant thing like this, the answer is often “morons.” Why is the vaccination rate falling? Morons. Why are people complaining about floridation of water? Morons. Why is there opposition to GMOs? Morons. So I wouldn’t be suprised if morons have decided iodine is bad and the market is supporting them. So-called “iodized salt” is a Communist plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids!!1! _WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!¡!_ ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/27 "2020-05-17T19:48:32Z")
[What is Non-GMO Salt?](https://www.cargill.com/salt-in-perspective/what-is-non-gmo-salt) > [@](#): > > Salt, an ingredient that spans nearly every food category, is no exception when it comes to non-GMO skepticism. Megan Swartz, Food Science Lead at Cargill Salt explained, “as the consumer demand for non-GMO products grows, we continue to receive more customer requests for salt that is non-GMO.” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/28 "2020-05-17T20:07:20Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I am very curious, how do you use pickled garlic? I am pretty sure I have never tried it. Eat it straight up, tangy! However you like it, add to a salad A sauté, in sauce, on condiment plate. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/29 "2020-05-17T20:15:56Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > So-called “iodized salt” is a Communist plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids!!1! > > _WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!¡!_ So if their semen tastes ‘salty’, they are in the process of being taken over by Communist subversion? Or even already turned into a Communist sympathizer? Horrors! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/30 "2020-05-17T20:22:31Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > If mom has insufficient iodine in her, her baby may have a dysfunctional thyroid gland even before birth. This can result in Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome. > > Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome is the current technical term for Cretinism. > > Many cretins have IQs of between 51-70. This range of IQ was the medical definition of Moron, decades ago, before the word ‘Moron’ became a perjorative. They often look like they have Down Syndrome, and back in the days before we knew what DS really was, babies whose diagnosis were uncertain were often given thyroid hormone, and if they improved, they probably didn’t have DS. (DS people often have thyroid issues as well, which is another story.) A while back, I saw a show on IIRC PBS that was about a remote mountain clinic in the Andes that still saw people with cretinism, and that’s why every pregnant woman who came to the clinic got an injection of iodine in oil, so it would slowly release. David Letterman’s mother’s cause celebre was iodination of salt, because she was old enough to remember people with goiters when she was growing up in Indiana. The American diet is usually good enough, iodine-wise, to prevent this. If you’re REALLY worried about getting enough iodine, Centrum vitamins contain it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/31 "2020-05-17T20:24:09Z")
> [@a6ka97](#): > > There was a run on iodized salt and back filled the shelf with non-iodized salt? p.s. This is the most likely scenario. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/32 "2020-05-17T20:33:08Z")
> [@vonespy](#): > > Kosher salt seems to be a current thing with foodie types (with the exception of Cook’s Illustrated/Cook’s Country which seems to be just ducky with iodine). Kosher salt is coarser but breaks into tinier pieces when crushed, unlike sea salt which is one large grain of salt. (and neither sea nor kosher have iodine. Sorry, talk about burying the lede.) Without looking, I feel that Cook’s Illustrated usually calls for Kosher salt. In part I think it’s because Kosher salt is less salty per volume than ordinary table salt so it’s harder to oversalt. I know their brine recipes call for Kosher salt and if memory serves they call for more Diamond salt and less Morton’s Kosher in the same volume of water because Diamond is less salty. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/33 "2020-05-17T20:35:38Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > So-called “iodized salt” is a Communist plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids!!1! > > _WAKE UP, SHEEPLE!!¡!_ So if their semen tastes ‘salty’, they are in the process of being taken over by Communist subversion? Or even already turned into a Communist sympathizer? Horrors! ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/34 "2020-05-17T21:44:05Z")
Are any other foodstuffs iodized besides salt? If you’re not using iodized salt (for whatever reason) then it seems like the only other supplements out there are kelp, which is of questionable quality and efficacy. Beyond that you’re looking at fish, seaweed (which has a massive amount), and to a lesser extent dairy products. Potassium iodide does not appear to be available as an OTC supplement, its use is limited to a radiation treatment for nuclear accidents or bombs. Something else to consider is that the amount of iodine we get from salt is apparently pretty low, because 70% of our salt intake is from processed foods, which almost never use iodized salt, and another 15% comes from naturally salty foods. Only the last 10-15% comes from salt added during cooking or on the table. You need 1/2 teaspoon a day of table salt to get the recommended amount of iodine, but that’s half your total allotment of salt. With so much coming from other sources, those numbers don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/35 "2020-05-17T21:56:47Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Shellfish contain iodine because they live in seawater, which is relatively rich in dissolved iodine. Most sea salts contain some iodine. Which is why folks living near the sea rarely had iodine deficiency, as their salt had some, as did kelp, and local seafood. Even if you’re relatively close to the sea, if you don’t live near sea level but at high altitudes (e.g. Piedmont in Italy), you are at risk of iodine deficiency and goitre. I once saw an old painting of an Alpine family where not only did everyone have a goitre, but the dog had one too. Wish I could find it online. Instead, here’s a [17th century carving from Piedmont](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/12/18/nh-6_custom-0d5d0e5a412de0591d6a73d563b174f065fe0829-s1600-c85.jpg) that would upset Elaine Benes. It’s from a relatively recent NPR piece entitled ‘[Why Certain Poor Shepherds In Nativity Scenes Have Huge, Misshapen Throats](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/12/24/788915889/why-certain-poor-shepherds-in-nativity-scenes-have-huge-misshapen-throats)’. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/36 "2020-05-17T21:58:55Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Without looking, I feel that Cook’s Illustrated usually calls for Kosher salt. In part I think it’s because Kosher salt is less salty per volume than ordinary table salt so it’s harder to oversalt. I know their brine recipes call for Kosher salt and if memory serves they call for more Diamond salt and less Morton’s Kosher in the same volume of water because Diamond is less salty. I call BS on this. Salt is essentially 100% NaCl. It’s all the same amount of “salty.” But, Iodized salt is slightly bitter tasting. Not enough for most people, but snobby chefs can taste the difference. So, they specify un-iodized. Kosher salt is also coarser, so that has an effect for some recipes. ---
**Author:** ![vonespy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vonespy/32/6204_2.png) [@vonespy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vonespy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/37 "2020-05-17T22:05:12Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > Without looking, I feel that Cook’s Illustrated usually calls for Kosher salt. In part I think it’s because Kosher salt is less salty per volume than ordinary table salt so it’s harder to oversalt. I know their brine recipes call for Kosher salt and if memory serves they call for more Diamond salt and less Morton’s Kosher in the same volume of water because Diamond is less salty. It looks like it’s a mix depending on the type of recipe which makes sense. A search for “kosher salt” recipes on [cooksillustrated.com](http://cooksillustrated.com), I get 857 results. “table salt” recipes show 3033, so yes, it looks like they use kosher when the recipe would benefit from it (looks like mostly meat dishes) and then fall back on table salt where it doesn’t matter the consistency of the salt. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/38 "2020-05-17T22:07:50Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Yes, all salt is kosher, whether iodized or not. Kosher salt is a misnomer. It’s called that because it’s the type of salt traditionally used for drying kosher meats. And don’t get me started on “kosher” pickles! > [@TSBG](#): > > {…} I know their brine recipes call for Kosher salt and if memory serves they call for more Diamond salt and less Morton’s Kosher in the same volume of water because Diamond is less salty. No! It’s because Diamond and Morton don’t have the same shape. You don’t get the same mass per volume. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/39 "2020-05-17T22:18:23Z")
Morton Kosher salt: 1.5 g weight per 1/4 tsp Kroger Iodized table salt: 1.2 g weight per 1/4 tsp. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975/40 "2020-05-17T22:30:12Z")
Yes, yes, I understand that one molecule of NaCl=one molecule of NaCl. I think my post was pretty clear that it’s about the volume of different kinds of salt, but go ahead, dunk away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-iodized-salt/853975.md?page=3)