There is no need to panic, however: the creatures in question are harmless bacteria that were found preserved in a crystal of rock salt.

ECONOMIST: Old salts

The first bag had the Alberger salt, the second the new 15 micron salt, the third pretzel salt, and the fourth another new crystal that Pepsi has been working on.

NEWYORKER: Snacks for a Fat Planet

Nu-Tek Salt has come up with a way to replace salt, or sodium chloride, in food with a proprietary crystal fashioned from potassium chloride and an organic acid. (see photo.) It tastes like salt, behaves like salt in recipes, and has the same texture and feel.

FORBES: Salt: A Favorite Ingredient Gets A Molecular Makeover