Featuring stories on a new report on urban transportation mobility, Kellogg's decision to take on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on sodium and health, the new taxes required to pay for healthcare, how some news accounts adopt a "glass half empty" approach to assessing health progress, and how treating HBP below 140/90 may make no difference, the August issue of SI Report is now available (html 54.86 kB) .

California's economy is in a shambles and its state government in deep financial distress. One reason, accordng to a Milken Institute study released yesterday by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association is that state policies have made California unfriendly to manufacturing. California is a major salt-producing state.

The report, Manufacturing Still Matters (Manufacturing 2.0) , says manufacturers are the "canary in a coal mine," indicative of basic problems requiring structural solutions. The problems include loss of manufacturing employment, loss of innovation, "an onerous regulatory climate and some of the highest taxes in the United States," and "a reputation for being a state that is unfriendly to business."

Recommendations include rebuilding the manufacturing sector as a foundation for renewed growth.

Christian scriptures refer repeatedly to salt. That’s no surprise. Salt has been well-appreciated by people everywhere and throughout time.

We often receive inquiries about these references. These are my thoughts; feel free to add your comments.

Salt references grow from the properties and uses of salt. These functions, historically, produced cultural practices leading to effective symbolism.

Salt is a preservative. It kills bacteria. Thus it retards spoilage and preserves the wholesome purity of foods. In related fashion, salt was the first antiseptic, killing bacteria in wounds. In reference to this function, salt is distinguished from leven or other fermentatives.

Salt affects flavor. The salty taste, of course, is one of the five basic tastes (some would add umami as a sixth), but salt’s flavor role is so much more as a flavor enhancer. It masks bitterness and off-tastes, enabling our palettes to appreciate prepared foods.

Preserving fresh foods equated to permanence and salt came to symbolize covenants. The pure white color symbolizes purity, the absence of contamination, including the contamination of intent in a relationship. Indeed, a “salt covenant” described an enduring, unbreakable covenant, a predictable relationship. Leviticus 2:13 instructed: "Neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt." And in Numbers 18:19 we read: "It is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee." Many cultures such as in Russia, prescribe a traditional offering of salt and bread to arriving guests as defining appropriate hospitality.

The desirable taste of salt and of salt-prepared foods has come to symbolize joy and happiness.

One oft-rehearsed verse, Matthew 5:13, produces the most misunderstanding. Christ taught: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men.” Followers of Christ were to be as salt, expunging evil (bacteria) and providing joy in the lives of their fellow men. Chemically, salt does not deteriorate and retains its unique taste (savour) forever. Adulterated, however, and the “savour” is lost and the value destroyed. It becomes unfit for its purposes of preservation or flavoring. The teaching is that followers of Christ are to make choices that preserve their purity and avoid impurities that contaminate their intended role as examples of Christian virtues and the joy they bring.

Salt is good and pure. Salt is the essence of life. Just as salt is an essential nutrient required by the body so must we be like salt. We must avoid losing our “savour” through principle-centered living.

Being pro-environment is good politics. And lessening man's "footprint" is a major policy objective.

Some companies are playing the angles to capitalize on environment-related business opportunities , some with subsidies, some hoping for help from highly-placed friends. Whether it's getting subsidies for ethanol or fuel efficient cars or producing "alternative" energy without generatating reviled carbon, the government seems to be, increasingly, at the nexus of picking winners in the marketplace. And that government role means that those with friends "inside" exercise more leverage.

I won't rehash the scientific controversy over global warming; it's certainly a lightning rod issue. But in the area of alternative energy, there's always been the presumption that the sun will shine, the tides will rise, the wind will blow and Earth's subterranean geo-furnace will go on forever -- even if moderate climates change. Today's New York Times carries a story about a labor union what I'd call "protection racket" regarding building new solar facilities in California.

Maybe continuation of the sun, moon, the Earth's molten core and, especially, the wind is not a safe assumption according to Eugene S. Takle, a professor of atmospheric science at Iowa State University, and the director of the school’s “climate science initiative.” Takle told MarketWatch.com that his research, to be published soon in the Journal of Geophysical Research , has found that U.S. wind strength has declined by 15% to 30% over the past 30 years from the mid-1970s to 2005. Land use and better instrumentation (and climate change itself) account for the decline, he believes.

Ted Kennedy may have the clout to block construction of those windmills off his Nantucket estate, but the bigger threat to his lifestyle may prove to be that his yacht may be as becalmed as the windmills.

The June SI Report (html 52.21 kB) highlights Salt Institute leadership contributed to the success of two important symposia recently. In Waterloo, Ontario, scientists examined road salt management practices and how they impact the environmental quality of urban stormwater runoff. In Anaheim, California, a panel of iodine nutrition experts explained to the Institute of Food Technologists the impending need for U.S. food producers to begin use of iodized salt. The newsletter also reported insights from the new consumer attitudes survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and several medical studies on salt and health.

And, naturally, salt is the solution to injuries at public and home pools.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 100 people every week are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries related to pool chemicals. Half are associated with home pools.

CDC warns against mixing chlorine with other substances and notes that most injuries occur when individuals inhale, attempt to pre-dissolve or improperly handle pool chemicals. CDC suggests operators keep pool chemicals secure, read manufacturers' instructions on using the products and use proper personal protective equipment when working with chemicals.

What CDC could/should have added is that pool operators should eliminate most of the potential problems by switching to saltwater pools.

Salt Institute member Industria Salinera de Yucatan , headquarted in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico was honored late last month at the 2^nd International Conference on the Ecological Importance of Solar Saltworks (CEISSA 2009) in Merida, March 26-28.

ISYSA President Eduardo Roche was honored for his efforts to preserve the environment of ISYSA's Las Coloradas saltfield located inside the Ria Lagartos Biosphere. The company also recently earned the Clean Industry Certification seal from the Mexican Secretary of Environmental Protection. ISYSA’s environmental accomplishments include preservation of nearby wetlands, support for turtle banding on the Las Coloradas beaches, restoration of roads and beaches of nearby towns after hurricanes, rescuing nearby flamingo colonies after hurricanes, and promoting an annual educational program by the nongovernmental organization--Niños y Crías A.C.—where adults and children band juvenile flamingoes.

The conference was held in honor of Dr. Joseph S. Davis, Professor Emeritus of the University of Florida, for his pioneering work on the relationship of biological processes and solar salt manufacture.

Another Salt Institute member, Salins , based in Paris, France, presented on how they manage their two Mediterranean saltworks as environmentally protected areas.

ISYSA hosted the conference which was organized by Sergio Ortiz of ISYSA, Dr. Themistocles Lekkas of the University of the Aegean, and Nikos Korovessis of Hellenic Saltworks. Presentations emphasized the environmental friendliness of the solar salt-making industry, mainly through wetland preservation. The conference attracted global participation with delegates from Argentina, China, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, and the U.S.

As blizzards still plague the Upper Midwest and Canada, sunny Brazil has some welcome news for salt-strapped road salt customers.

Last year, the federal Brazilian government invested US $10 million to expand the capabilities of Termisa Port, the federal offshore port terminal built on a man-made island exclusively to load bulk salt. The port has been in operation since 1974, but had never been able to load Panamax-sized ships (~75,000 tons) until March 2008.

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ("Lula") recently approved a second round of investments in Termisa. The new project, ten times larger at US $100 million, will increase the stockpile area by 50%, dredge the ship channels and maneuver areas to a depth of 17 meters and improve barge access bringing the salt from mainland saltworks. A new unloader crane and new belt conveyor system will double vessel loading capacity.

Salt Institute member Salinor's international business director Augusto Pires, said the investment is part of Brazil's economic stimulus package aimed to upgrade infrastructure throughout the country and represents the government's strong interest in Northeast Brazil and the salt industry.

The improvements should be completed in late 2010.

This is one of those blockbuster stories that is most accurately recounted by quoting the principles' well-considered news release, which follows. A month ago, K+S denied rumors it was in pursuit of US-based Compass Minerals (Compass denied the rumors as well).

This caps a busy day of corporate shuffling as Dow Chemicals closed its acquisition of Morton Salt parent Rohm and Haas while openly shopping the salt business to generate cash to close the deal.

K+S has operated wholly-owned, Clarks Summit, PA-based International Salt, distributing more than 3 million tons of (largely highway) salt which it has imported from its Chilean mine.

Here's the K+S release .

K+S Aktiengesellschaft, one of the world's leading suppliers of speciality and standard fertilizers, plant care as well as salt products, announced today that it has come to an agreement with Rohm and Haas, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company to acquire Morton International, Inc. (Morton Salt), one of the leading producers of consumer, industrial and de-icing salt in North America. Closing for the transaction which values Morton Salt at an enterprise value of USD 1.675 billion is expected by mid year 2009 following receipt of the required approvals from antitrust authorities.

“Morton Salt is an excellent opportunity to grow our global salt business”, said Norbert Steiner, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of K+S. “It marks another milestone in our strategy towards balanced growth, enhances our profitability and as a result strengthens K+S Group overall, in Europe and Overseas. As one of the leading salt producers, Morton Salt offers us widespread, close-to-customer production sites in the U.S. and Canada and a nationwide distribution network. Through Morton Salt we gain access to new and less volatile de-icing regions. It extends and diversifies our geographic presence and enhances our positions in the North American consumer and industrial salt markets.“

The acquisition of Morton Salt will make K+S the North American and global leader in salt. In 2008, Morton Salt achieved revenues of USD 1.2 billion and EBITDA of USD 270 million. Morton Salt operates 6 rock salt mines, 7 solar evaporation facilities, 10 vacuum pan operations as well as 62 salt stockpiles and 61 distribution centers. Its annual salt production capacity amounts to 13.1 million tonnes. Founded in 1848, Morton Salt has 2,900 employees and is headquartered in Chicago.

The purchase price will be paid in cash. The financing is fully underwritten by Dresdner Kleinwort, Société Générale and Unicredit (HVB). While maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet, the transaction is consistent with K+S’ acquisition criteria. The acquisition will be clearly EPS accretive from 2010 onwards. “Morton Salt is a profitable business with strong cash flow generation and provides us with operational synergy potential by leveraging the leading salt consumer brand (“The Morton Umbrella Girl”) to its existing product portfolio and by optimizing logistics between Chile, Brazil and North America”, said Norbert Steiner.

“Our business operations are highly complementary and we share a deep understanding of the salt business which will facilitate a smooth integration and deliver immediate benefits to employees, customers and shareholders.

We look forward to working together with an excellent team to realize the growth opportunities that lay ahead”, he added.

K+S and Dow Chemical have carefully analyzed the business combination with respect to potential antitrust and other regulatory considerations and do not foresee any issues in this regard.

The media opines that the Obama Administration's stimulus and bailout packages are reminiscent of the New Deal. Another oft-ignored parallel to that bygone era and its big government response to global economic crisis springs to mind, prompted by a couple recent news items. That parallel is the federal government's retreat from free trade to insular protectionism. Think of the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930.

Earlier this week, Jeff Stier of the American Council for Science and Health asked in an op ed piece at Forbes.com : "As we enter a trade war with China, are our toxin fears founded?" He continued:

Scaremongering U.S. regulators have been indiscriminately attacking products from China for years, and China recently struck back. Shanghai's equivalent of our Food and Drug Administration investigated baby products made by Johnson & Johnson, echoing claims by a coalition of U.S. activists that the products pose a threat to children because they contain trace amounts of the "carcinogens" formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane. That China opted not to ban the products is good from both scientific and economic perspectives--and we should learn from this brush with product banning.

He explained that China's investigation was political retaliation, not legitimate scientific concern. "It's just the latest move in a junk-science-exploiting trade war, which plays well at home in each country--but undermines both trade and health," he said. China was retaliating for equally ill-founded scaremongering in the U.S. where the feds declared Chinese-made toys "toxic" because some were found to contain low levels of lead, despite the fact that the levels did not pose a health threat.

The second example was the political payback the Obama Administration afforded the Teamsters Union on March 11 by rescinding a pilot program allowing Mexican trucks to bring their products into the U.S. (instead of using Teamsters-driven U.S. trucks). Mexico retaliated, applying new tariffs on 90 U.S. products with annual sales of about $2.4 billion in Mexico. Time Magazine 's Ioan Grillo calls it "Obama's 'trade war'" and reports:

Down in Mexico, the administration of President Felipe Calderón accused the U.S. of being hypocritical and protectionist. It has a strong case. Under NAFTA, Mexican trucks were meant to be roaming some U.S. roads in 1995 and the width and breadth of the whole country by 2000. However, successive U.S. administrations could not say no to Teamster complaints that Mexican trucks were not fit for the interstates. Finally, both sides agreed on the pilot program to break the deadlock.

Let's not forget our history: The populism of Smoot-Hawley may have had short-term political appeal to "save American jobs," but it widened and deepened the Great Depression. If monetary liquidity is a problem today, let's not compound it by balkanizing trade. China and Mexico are two of our three largest trading partners. What are we going to do next? Disrupt trade with Canada?

A contemporary art exhibition, "Salt of the Earth ," will be held in a historic church in Salthouse in the UK, which was named after its role in the medieval salt trade. The exhibition features over 50 contemporary artists who are creating new work in response to the theme of 'Salt of the Earth', considering salt's role in culture, history, religion, agriculture, science and culinary matters. The exhibition promises to be an exciting event featuring paintings, drawing, printmaking, film, sculpture, installation and ceramics by some of the leading British artists. This year's curator is Norfolk native Simon Martin from the award-winning, prestigious Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

The Hutchinson news reported March 11 that Reno County is nearing conclusion of plans to build a gas pipeline from the local landfill to Morton Salt's Huchinson evap plant.

County Counselor Joe O'Sullivan said discussions with Morton Salt, South Hutchinson, for a future methane gas pipeline project are progressing, and a proposed agreement will be ready this spring. The county plans to sell methane gas generated at the county landfill to the company.

Wow, what a batch of winners! Congratulations to all involved in these recent safety achievements:

• Morton Salt, Manistee, MI evap plant, 1.2 million hours
• Canadian Salt, Lindbergh works, Elk Point, AB evap plant, 1.1 million hours
• Canadian Salt, Pugwash, NS mine, 800,000 hours
• Cargill Deicing Technology, Cayuga mine, Lansing, NY, 800,000 hours
• Cargill Salt, Hutchinson, KS evap plant, 700,000 hours
• Cargill Salt, Watkins Glen, NY evap plant, 500,000 hours
• Cargill Salt, Bonaire, N.A. solar facility, 400,000 hours
• Cargill Salt, Timpie, Grantsville, UT solar facility, 400,000 hours
• Cargill Salt, Breaux Bridge, LA evap plant, 300,000 hours
• Morton Salt, Hutchinson, KS evap plant, 100,000 hours

• Cargill Salt, Pittsburgh, PA terminal, 31 years
• Cargill Salt, Baltimore, MD processing plant, 17 years
• Cargill Salt, Milwaukee, WI terminal, 17 years
• Cargill Salt, St. Clair, MI terminal, seven years
• Cargill Salt, Tampa FL terminal, five years
• Compass Minerals, Sifto Canada, Amherst, NS evap plant, four years
• Canadian Salt, Pugwash, NS mine, two years
• Cargill Salt, Breaux Bridge, LA evap plant, two years
• Cargill Salt, Hutchinson, KS evap plant, two years

Perhaps it's ironic that Iberian poet George Santayana brought the world the observation that "those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The January 27 issue of The New York Times carries a story by Elaine Sciolino of a group of young Portuguese entrepreneurs who are repeating history, reconstructing a hand-harvested solar saltworks in the Algarve region south of Lisbon.

Despite the global economic gloom, they hope their timing couldn't be better in that the last few years have seen a resurgence in popularity of assorted sea salts commanding premium markeplace prices. Then again, with recession reflected in many households' economic choices, it could be that the story might more likely parallel the 1992 book by Francis Fukuyama,The End of History and the Last Man. Fukuyama was wrong about American global hegemony. Will the history of the Portugese salinas end with a rebirth of artisinal salt or repeat itself in Darwin's natural selection?

Corporations throughout the U.S. are squeezing costs and cutting jobs in response to the national economic distress and "softening markets worldwide." Morton Salt parent Rohm and Haas announced its second round of cuts -- 900 jobs will be affected in hopes of dropping $90 million to the company's bottom line. All units of the company are impacted -- except Morton Salt. Like all U.S. road salt producers, business is humming at Morton Salt.