page_title: Dairy salt
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Dairy salt / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Thomas Malloy - The American Dairy Salt Co., Lt'd
context_page_description: Dairy salt is a salt product used in the preparation of butter and cheese products that serves to add flavor and act as a food preservative. Dairy salt can vary in terms of quality and purity, with purer varieties being the most desirable for use in foods. Dairy salt has been used since at least the 1890s in England and the United States. In butter preparation, it serves to retain moisture, while in cheeses, it tends to reduce water content and slow the ripening process.
context_section_description: In the 1890s, many brands of dairy salt were available. In England during this time, the Ashton and Higgins Eureka Salt brands were available (among others), and were used in the United States. U.S. brands of dairy salt in the 1890s included Diamond Crystal Salt and Genesee Salt, among others. Almost all of these brands were very pure, being 98–99% sodium chloride.
  In 1899, it was estimated that around 82 million pounds of salt were used in the United States specifically for dairy purposes. At that time, this amount of salt was valued at US $800,000.
  In 1914, it was written that American and Danish authorities were in agreement that large-sized, flat flake salt is the best type of dairy salt for use in butter products. During this time, almost all dairy salt was prepared using the process of evaporation. Some techniques included leaving brine in the sun to evaporate, or heating it with fire underneath iron pans, with the salt crystals remaining after the liquid evaporated. Additional methods included the Michigan grainer process and the vacuum pan process. 
  In the 1920s, calcium sulphate was one of the most common impurities in dairy salt. During this time, the United States Department of Agriculture's had a 1.4% maximum allowance for calcium sulphate in dairy salt and table salt.
caption: An 1893 advertisement including content about The American Dairy Salt Co. Lt'd.
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