Salt
What is Salt?
Salt is a mineral compound, primarily sodium chloride (NaCl). It is naturally occurring and can be harvested from underground deposits (rock salt) or evaporated from seawater or brine springs. The extraction and refining processes remove impurities to produce food-grade salt.
Is Salt vegan?
Salt is not animal-derived. Products that contain it can still include other animal-derived ingredients, so check the full ingredient list.
Is Salt a major allergen?
Salt is not one of the 14 major allergens that UK law requires to be emphasised on food labels.
What is Salt used for?
Manufacturers add salt to foods for flavour enhancement, preservation, and to modify texture.
Is Salt safe?
Salt is not classified as a food additive in the UK and is not assigned an E-number.
Why it's used
Manufacturers add salt to foods for flavour enhancement, preservation, and to modify texture. It intensifies other flavours, acts as a preservative by inhibiting microbial growth, and can affect dough structure in baked goods. Salt is a ubiquitous ingredient found in a vast range of processed foods, including savoury snacks, ready meals, bread, and processed meats.
Health notes
Salt is not classified as a food additive in the UK and is not assigned an E-number. The UK government's Eatwell Guide advises adults to consume no more than 6g of salt per day. High salt intake is associated with increased blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as noted by the NHS.
Allergen info
Salt is not one of the 14 major allergens that UK law requires to be emphasised on food labels. It is not derived from any of these allergens.
Foods that contain Salt
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