Chicken salt was originally developed in the 1970s by Peter Brinkworth in Gawler, South Australia to season chicken for rotisseries. This recipe was purchased by Mitani Group in 1979, and is now commonly used on chips throughout Australia.[4][5][6]
The first recipe for chicken salt consisted of salt, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, chicken bouillon and monosodium glutamate (MSG), along with some unspecified herbs and spices.[5] There are versions of chicken salt that use chicken flavouring as well as vegan versions.[7]
Invented in the 1970s in Hull and claimed to have been inspired by seasoned salt used in American diners, "chip spice" was introduced into the United Kingdom by Rod and Brenda Wilson; the recipe is paprika and salt-based.[8] A chilli-based variant is also available. The brand American Chip Spice is now owned by Wilson's Seasonings.[9]
Mesmorfries was created in 2022 in Hull by Daniel Howard. It is inspired by similar seasoned salt recipes, and has a subtle smoky flavour. Mesmorfries is manufactured by MES Seasonings and is primarily marketed in the local area.
Lawry's, the oldest commonly used "seasoned salt" in the US, was originally developed for seasoning steaks in the 1930s.[10][11]
Lawry's, the most common brand of seasoned salt in the US
Morton Season-All is the #2 seasoned salt in the US by market share.[12]
Cajun and Creole seasoning. In Louisiana and the surrounding states, many companies make Cajun/Creole seasonings. It is a spicy blend of onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano or thyme, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Brands include Tony Chachere's, Zatarain's and Paul Prudhomme.[13]
Old Bay is a celery salt-based seasoned salt commonly used on seafood.[14]
The seasoned salt industry in the United States sells $100 million in seasoned salt annually. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, two brands make up 80% of the market.[15]
The combined marketshare of Lawry's seasoned salt and Season-All was of sufficient concern that the FTC required McCormick, then-owner of the Season-All brand, to sell it to Morton as a condition of McCormick purchasing Lawry's in 2008.[16]
^Eleanor Churchill (3 March 2016). "A Sprinkle of Chip Spice". Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Originally, John's close friends Rob and Brenda Wilson came up with the idea of using spiced salt and paprika when visiting America during the late 70s
