A composition that is a substitute for food grade sodium chloride includes crystalline particles containing both potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride such that the potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride are not susceptible to separation. A process for making the composition includes steps of providing a supersaturated water solution of potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride at a temperature of from about 10 to about 70° C., adding ethanol to the solution in an amount sufficient to precipitate crystalline particles containing a combination of potassium chloride and lysine monohydrochloride, separating the crystalline particles from the solution, and drying the crystalline particles.