On March the 4th, 2022, throughout the Joint Resolution N° 32/2021, the Secretariat of Health Quality and the Secretariat of Food, Bioeconomy and Regional Development, amended the National Food Code referring to “Salt”.
This amendment incorporated a new definition of the product, meaning by it a “purified crystalline product, which is composed mainly of sodium chloride. Its origin may be from natural sources, rock salt, brines or seawater, salt pans, evaporation salt”.
In addition, a new classification was carried out, according to their use and purpose: human food and industrial food use.
Regarding “Food Grade Salt”, it was established that in its production process, the Salt must be washed, centrifuged, and dried at more than 80°C to ensure the absence of physical, chemical, and biological contaminants. If the production method is known as vacuum or vacuum evaporation, it will not be necessary to wash the salt.
In all cases, Food Grade Salt shall be in the form of white, odorless, water-soluble crystals with a frank saline taste and meet all specifications according to the methodologies described in the Code. And, as well, contain one part of iodine in thirty thousand parts of salt, accepting a variation in more or less than 25.0%.
Iodized salt shall be produced by homogeneous enrichment with one of the following salts:
I) Potassium iodate.
II) Sodium or potassium iodide. In this case, the salt shall be added with iodine binders, previously authorized by the competent sanitary authority.
On the other hand, the product can be added with:
Additives allowed according to Resolution MERCOSUR/GMC/RES No. 08/06 (modified by Resolution MERCOSUR/GMC/RES No. 28/18):
(*) When for a given function two or more additives are authorized with maximum numerical concentration assigned, the sum of the amounts to be used in a food may not exceed the maximum amount corresponding to the additive allowed in greater quantity and the amount of each additive may not exceed the individual limit.
All anti-caking agents may be used alone or in combination and may be replaced by up to 2.0% starch.
Silicon dioxide, up to 1.5%.
Essential oils and/or artificial essences up to 1.0%.
Celery, oregano, onion, garlic, or other permitted vegetable substances dehydrated and finely ground, in an amount not greater than 25.0%.
When flavorings are used, the following sales denomination must appear on the label: “Flavored/flavored salt with …. (Filling in the blank with the name of the flavoring/flavoring used)”.
When permitted herbal substances or their mixtures are used in the processing, the labeling shall state:
“Salt with… (filling in the blank with the name of the vegetable substance/s used).”.
At the same time, various product names and classifications were established, according to their granulometry:
Coarse salt: means the product composed of crystals that pass through the IRAM 4760-micron sieve and are mostly retained by the IRAM 1000-micron sieve.
Entrefine Salt means the product composed of crystals that pass not less than 95% through the IRAM 2000-micron sieve and are retained by the IRAM 177-micron sieve.
Fine salt or fine table salt: means the product composed of crystals that comply with the following granulometry: For salts coming from crystallization processes (Vacuum), a passing through IRAM 150-micron sieve of up to 30% is accepted.
Impalpable salt: means the product obtained from the grinding of fine salt that passes the IRAM 177-micron sieve at least 95%.
As regards packaging, they must be new, of first use only, and must include on its label the characters with good size, prominence, and visibility, when applied according to article 1272, the following legend “Enriched salt for human food use. National Law No. 17.259”.
In the case of salt for Industrial Use, its packaging must contain the legend “Food quality salt – Industrial use”.
On the other hand, as regards Iodized Salt for Industrial Use, whether for food or non-food purposes, the legend “Industrial Use” shall appear on the label.
This report should not be considered as legal or any other type of advice by Allende & Brea.
