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Characteristics and Utilization of Salt

Salt has been collected, mined and used by humans for thousands of years. It is not only essential for the body’s metabolism and good maintenance but important for food preservation and seasoning. In the long history of mankind salt has played a major role in commerce, war, medicine, religion and culture. In many religious rituals and cultural activities salt is still being used. While salt is vital for humans the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that total intake should not exceed a maximum of 5 g per day as consuming too much salt can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, oedema etc. For Korean diets it is therefore desirable to consume less soup, salted fish, food pastes, instant noodles and other processed foods high in salt content, and reduce the use of monosodium glutamate (MSG). Processed food industries and food service industries should reduce the salt content of their products. Salt is also being used in a variety of medical treatments, but more research is needed to help ensure better reliability and efficacy when used as a pharmaceutical ingredient. Salt is also a raw material in many manufacturing industries. Care ought to be taken to ensure products manufactured are safe for all living things. As sea and sweet water pollution is an increasingly serious problem worldwide strict regulations are required to minimize contamination with heavy metals, microplastics, radioactive substances, etc. Otherwise salt produced from such sources could cause harm to the human body. It should be considered an urgent priority to develop new products that will help ensure the safety of the chlorine components used in chemical industries and to help prevent environmental pollution by plastic products. As salt and calcium chloride are widely used for melting snow or to prevent freezing in cold climates there is a growing concern of soil and river contamination. Alternative products need to be developed. Since salt will continue to be needed indefinitely care must be taken to secure adequate supply and ensure safe and fair use on a global scale.