Frequently Asked Questions - Food

Are some salts more pure than others?
Can you use softener salt with food, such as canning or with meat packing?
Can I use water softening salt in my ice cream freezer?
Does your salt contain iodine?
What stores in my area carry your salt?
Are there any chemicals in your salt?

Are some salts more pure than others?

Yes. Evaporated salt ranges from 99.7 to 99.99% pure sodium chloride. Solar salt is typically 99.6 to 99.8% sodium chloride. Rock salt used for water conditioning may run from 95 to more than 98.5% sodium chloride, depending on the source.

Can you use softener salt with food, such as canning or with meat packing?

Although water softener pellets may be made from food grade salt, the pellet press process, itself, does not meet the criteria required to call the finished pellets "food grade". Therefore, direct application of pellets in food processing is not recommended. Other water softening salt products like solar salt, rock salt and brine blocks are not recommended for food application for the same reason.

Can I use water softening salt in my ice cream freezer?

Salt lowers the freezing point of water making it possible to achieve below freezing temperature when applied to ice. Any type of salt, including table salt may be used for this purpose. Since the salt will eventually melt the ice, coarse salt would be preferred because it dissolves more slowly. Rock or solar water softening salt tends to be coarse and will work well for this purpose. Pellets and Sun Gems® are too coarse and should not be used.

Does your salt contain iodine?

The salt only contains iodine if it states so on the packaging. If the salt is not labeled as iodized, it does not contain any.

What stores in my area carry your salt?

Please call 1-888-385-7258 and ask them to forward you to the Cargill inside sales representative in your area. The Cargill inside sales person can give you the name of a retailer in your area. For water conditioning salt link to the Water Conditioning Product Locator.

Are there any chemicals in your salt?

Some of our products contain additives (primarily to keep it from getting hard or to iodize it) and others do not. Please refer to the product packaging or request a technical data sheet.