An accomplished chemist, Juhani Maki began developing an alternative salt for a private company in Finland during the 1980s. The simple idea at the time was to add an essential mineral, magnesium, to the typical salt mix. Magnesium was recognized as a significant mineral that was lacking from the everyday diet.

A magnesium compound was added to the blend of potassium and sodium (the basic ingredients in salt) and the salt mix became a commercial product. However, it did not preserve food as effectively as regular salt and the taste was unacceptable.

Maki was not satisfied with the product and began his own company with the singular goal of finding the ultimate formula, a perfect salt substitute. He started researching the intricacies of magnesium in order to develop a product that was both healthy and tasted like regular salt. After five years of intense research and development, he had developed a definitive alternative to traditional salt. He was certain that his new formulation had exceptional health benefits, and to prove his hypothesis he teamed up with a major hospital to conduct initial clinical trials. As anticipated, the results were phenomenal and Maki proceeded in securing global patent protection for his invention.

Shortly thereafter, Smart Salt, Inc. was founded and commercialization was initiated. After extensive product and consumer preference tests, Smart Salt discovered just how delicate the taste profile needs to be to ensure consumer acceptance. The Smart Salt team employed significant taste improvements that enable the use of their product in every application from table top and home cooking to processed food and food service uses.

Protected by international patents, Smart Salt Inc.'s revolutionary salt substitute can now be utilized to the benefit of every consumer and food marketer. Smart Salt meets this demand in three segments:

• Most sodium intake comes from processed food. Thus, there is a huge demand from food processors and manufacturers to find ways to reduce sodium content in their products while maintaining salt’s preservation characteristics.
• Salt sensitive consumers can take charge of their own tables too. There is therefore a growing market demand for a healthy, good-tasting, low-sodium alternative to table salt.
• Lastly, regulatory authorities are pushing for lower sodium standards across the board for manufacturers, food service industries and food processors alike. Smart Salt helps manufacturers and consumers meet these regulations in a product that is appealing and healthy.

Smart Salt Inc. was founded to commercialize the invention and make the product readily available for large-scale food manufacturing and processing. Smart Salt is the only available product on the market that satisfies all requirements of an alternative to table salt: positive health effects, preservation qualities and magnificent taste.