The difference between industrial salt and edible salt, and the hazards of consuming industrial salt.

　　What’s the difference between industrial salt and table salt? What are the dangers of consuming industrial salt? First, let me tell you: Industrial salt is strictly prohibited for human consumption. Ingesting as little as 3 grams can be fatal—this is no exaggeration. Now, let me explain it all to you one by one.

　　Industrial salt sounds somewhat related to salt, but what exactly is the difference between it and table salt? Here, we need to clarify three related concepts: salt, industrial salt, and table salt.

　　Salt

　　From a chemical perspective, "salt" refers to a class of compounds formed by the combination of metal ions or ammonium ions (NH4+) with acid radicals or nonmetallic ions. Examples include sodium chloride, calcium nitrate, ferrous sulfate, ammonium acetate, calcium sulfate, copper chloride, and sodium acetate. In our daily lives, when we refer to "salt," we are usually talking about table salt in its abbreviated form.

　　Industrial salt

　　Industrial salt has a wide range of industrial applications and is one of the most fundamental raw materials in the chemical industry, often referred to as the "mother of the chemical industry." The major products of the basic chemical industry—such as hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, soda ash, ammonium chloride, and chlorine—are primarily produced using industrial salt as a raw material. Industrial salt refers to crude salt, which can be categorized into lake salt, well salt, and sea salt. Among these, sea salt has relatively higher industrial value but lower edible value, owing to the fact that seawater contains a variety of dissolved elements. The major products of the basic chemical industry—such as hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, soda ash, sodium chloride, and chlorine—are primarily produced using industrial salt as a raw material.

　　Table salt

　　Edible salt refers to processed salt whose primary component is sodium chloride, obtained from sources such as seawater, underground rock (mineral) salt deposits, and natural brine (saline water). Edible salt is one of the most commonly used seasonings in cooking and is an essential substance for maintaining normal physiological functions in the human body. Given its critical role in our daily diet, China has established stringent regulations governing the quality of edible salt.

　　The difference between industrial salt and table salt

　　In fact, the term “industrial salt” is scientifically inaccurate. Before the age of industrialization, when people spoke of “salt,” they were referring specifically to table salt—the kind used for seasoning in daily life—not the “salts” we now understand in the context of modern chemistry. Yet in real life, a significant number of people have relatively low levels of education and fail to distinguish between the “table salt” we use in cooking and the chemically defined “salts.” As a result, there have been numerous incidents involving the accidental consumption of toxic salts, leading to mass poisonings. The “salt” commonly referred to in everyday life is derived from seawater, salt ponds, salt wells, and salt mines through various processing methods. Its primary component is sodium chloride (NaCl), and it’s known as sea salt, pond salt, well salt, or rock salt, respectively. Throughout human history—and into the future—our bodies have relied on these different types of salt to obtain the essential inorganic salts we need. With the development of the chemical industry and chemical science, the meaning of the word “salt” has long since expanded dramatically. As explained in middle-school chemistry textbooks, “salt” refers to compounds composed of “metal ions” (including ammonium ions) and acid radical ions. These salts come in countless varieties, each with distinct properties, appearances, and applications. Due to the importance and high profitability of table salt, governments throughout history have adopted monopolistic policies regarding its production and distribution, giving rise to the distinction between “official salt” and “private salt.” In recent years, driven by nutritional and health considerations, refined salt produced from raw salt now often contains small amounts of nutrients such as potassium iodide (KI). This has led to the distinction between “qualified” and “unqualified” table salt. All these distinctions are primarily matters of policy and regulation; the chemical composition of these salts remains essentially the same. Although “private salt” and “unqualified salt” lacking added potassium iodide are indeed illegal, they’re unlikely to be deadly. There’s no real distinction between “genuine salt” and “fake salt”—the main component of all these salts is still sodium chloride.

　　The Dangers of Confusing Industrial Salt with Edible Salt

　　Table salt is essential for sustaining human life. Its main component is sodium chloride, and it also contains trace elements such as iodine that the human body needs. Although industrial salt’s primary component is also sodium chloride, it contains varying degrees of impurities and often exceeds the permissible levels of heavy metals. These impurities can pose serious health risks to humans, particularly to pregnant women and children. Moreover, if industrial salt does not contain iodine, long-term consumption can lead to iodine deficiency disorders. Goiter—commonly known as "big neck disease"—is a typical manifestation of iodine deficiency.

　　If industrial salt contains nitrites, this is the most serious situation and can lead to poisoning. After entering the body, nitrites cause low-iron hemoglobin—responsible for carrying oxygen—to be converted into high-iron hemoglobin. Once high-iron hemoglobin encounters oxygen, it binds tightly and becomes difficult to separate. As a result, the body’s tissues throughout the entire body suffer from oxygen deprivation. When the human body ingests just 0.3 to 0.5 grams of nitrites, acute poisoning can occur; as little as 3 grams can be fatal. Once the body is poisoned, symptoms typically appear within a dozen minutes, including dizziness, head pressure, tinnitus, general weakness, numbness in the hands and feet, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, convulsions and coma may occur.

　　Once nitrite poisoning occurs, seek medical treatment promptly. Before the ambulance arrives, you can give the poisoned person milk or egg whites, which can help alleviate symptoms. Finally, we strongly advise everyone to purchase edible salt only from reputable sources.

　　The difference between industrial salt and table salt

　　Salt can be categorized according to its use into edible salt, industrial salt, and special-purpose salt. The edible salt commonly used in daily life is a processed salt whose main component is sodium chloride, derived from seawater, underground rock (mineral) salt deposits, and natural brines. In industrial production, the term "industrial salt" has a broad meaning; sometimes it refers to pure sodium nitrite, and at other times it refers to sodium chloride containing sodium nitrite. In addition to containing large amounts of the carcinogenic substance nitrite, industrial salt may also contain harmful substances such as lead and arsenic. Using industrial salt significantly increases the risk of food poisoning.

　　1. Ingredients

　　Due to production standards and intended uses, industrial salt contains not only the primary substance—sodium chloride—but also other impurity salts, such as sodium nitrite, which can be harmful to human health. Therefore, the packaging of industrial salt is clearly marked with a warning stating that it must not be consumed under any circumstances.

　　The production of table salt adheres to food-grade standards, which is why table salt is relatively pure sodium chloride.

　　2. Nature

　　Edible salt is relatively pure sodium chloride, which has stable chemical properties and exhibits neutrality.

　　In addition to sodium chloride, industrial salt may also contain significant amounts of impurity salts, causing its aqueous solution to be alkaline.

　　The Dangers of Consuming Industrial Salt

　　The most common cause of industrial salt poisoning is the ingestion of excessive nitrites. Consuming as little as 0.3 to 0.5 grams of nitrites can trigger poisoning, while ingesting 3 grams can be fatal.

　　Symptoms of poisoning

　　1. Headache, dizziness, weakness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cyanosis of the lips, nails, skin all over the body, and mucous membranes.

　　2. The skin and mucous membranes throughout the body exhibit varying degrees of cyanosis (cyanosis caused by methemoglobinemia).

　　3. Severe poisoning can cause coma, convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and other symptoms.

　　As can be seen from this, industrial salt is strictly prohibited for human consumption. We also recommend that everyone choose salt products from reputable channels and brands when making purchases.