Chemically it is called sodium chloride or NaCl.
When we were young, this salt was produced by evaporating sea water. That was the only source of getting salt and it was abundantly available. It was so cheap that even the grocery traders in Mumbai used to keep it unlocked outside their shop during night time. This salt obtained from sea water had plenty of additional health benefits.
But in 1986 things changed.
Tata's approached Rajiv Gandhi government with a request to sell "Iodized Salt". They gave a reason that people in North Eastern state suffer from iodine deficiency and their salt with iodine will prevent all diseases arising from iodine deficiency.
The corporate lobbying worked. Rajiv Gandhi government BANNED human consumption of natural sea salt and made it mandatory to use iodized salt throughout india.
Since Tata's were the only iodized salt producers, they instantly created monopoly in this business. I hope you remember the commercial "नमक टाटा का.... टाटा नमक". The entire population was made to believe that this salt was good for health compared to natural sea salt. Consequently, natural sea salt was made to look so inferior that all people totally boycotted it, and natural sea salt lost demand and gradually disappeared from all the shops.
The ladies liked this salt because it was not getting sticky during monsoon like sea salt. Moreover, a small quantity was sufficient to create taste etc. giving it a wrong picture of being a quality product. But price of Tata salt was almost 5 times the sea salt, which was not a problem for consumers, because they were all misled to believe that it was good for health.
Nobody knows the real story why Tata's lobbied to ban natural sea salt.
Tata chemicals had a huge chemical plant in Mithapur, Gujarat state. They used to produce tons of chemically induced salt as a byproduct in the chemical process.
This salt cannot be dumped in the landfill otherwise as it would destroy farming land. Hence Tata chemicals had created railroad tracks to take this salt to the sea and dump it in the sea.
Naturally, they were spending huge money in disposing this salt. Hence they followed the western ideology of creating iodized salt in India. A selfish corporate strategy to mint money by exploiting innocent people of the nation.
When indian government changed the rules, Tata chemicals started making huge profit instead of spending money in disposing the salt.
Basically Tata chemicals followed the same suit from western countries.
Over a period of time people started understanding the bad effects of using chemically manufactured salt.
1) The sodium content in chemically induced salt is very high. That is why even a small quantity was sufficient to create taste. Prolonged consumption of this salt created high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack problems.
2) To control this problem, people started taking medicines. As a result, business of pharmaceutical companies increased ! Doctor' business improved. Hospitals earned more money.
3) Iodine level in the human body is a very delicate balance. If it is not within the limits, then it creates thyroid problem. Generally speaking, Indians have a balanced iodine level and don't need extra dose of iodine. The iodine obtained from natural sea salt was perfect for the iodine requirements of all Indians.
But with Tata salt, everyone was getting unnecessary extra dose of iodine. As a result, people started getting thyroid problem, obesity problem and other health issues.
4) Again, pharmaceutical companies made huge profits by selling thyroid medicine. The blood testing laboratories got good business, the doctors got good business and fitness centers got huge business (to control obesity).
All this because of a pinch of salt that was controlled by the government regulation.
In US, people realized heath issues due to this salt and asked to lift ban in the sea salt.
Government partially removed the restriction on sea salt.
But now the sea salt is available in US as a novelty with a premium price. It is almost 5 times costlier than the chemically manufactured iodized sea salt.
The point is, the sea salt which was cheap and abundantly available through natural sources, was banned by the government and after a couple of decades, same sea salt is now available 5 times costlier !!!!
This is called corporate strategy and good governance.
Yes, time and time again, good doctors have recommended going back to natural salt.
Thank you for exposing the grand conspiracy of corporates. Let us all go back to natural sea salt. Let us provide protection for our future generations !
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