Iodized Salt: Iodine is a vital element for the prevention of iodine deficiency diseases. According to UNICEF, iodine deficiency is particularly damaging during pregnancy and early childhood. It can cause miscarriages, stillbirth, mental retardation, and learning disability.
To combat iodine deficiency, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that household access to iodized salt needs to be more than 90 percent. This means that all salt for humans should be iodized or contain 15—40 milligrams per kilogram of salt.
However, many parts of the world, particularly those in the developing world, have not been able to meet this recommendation due to lack of access to iodized salt. In addition, a large portion of the population in these countries are unable to afford the cost of iodized salt. It can be higher than the cost of non-iodized salt.
As a result, many individuals are not receiving the necessary iodine intake to prevent iodine deficiency diseases. To combat this, governments and other organizations have implemented
A New Study in Bangladesh: Iodized Salt
A new study conducted in Bangladesh and published in Food Chemistry Advances has found that although iodine deficiency ailments have declined in Bangladesh due to government initiatives, attention needs to be paid to the loss of iodine content in packaged salt resulting from humidity and high temperature. The study looked at the concentration of iodine in packaged salt in the country and its stability in different brands, and found that the iodine content in packed salt decreases over time.
Consumer Satisfaction
The study also looked at how satisfied consumers were with different brands of salt. It found that consumer satisfaction levels were significantly associated with the iodine content of salt, as well as the income and educational status of consumers.
Storing Salt-Iodized Salt
To combat iodine deficiency, better education and awareness campaigns are needed to inform households about proper storage practices for maintaining iodine content in salt. By minimizing exposure to air, the loss of iodine content in salt can be reduced.
Fortifying Salt
Fortifying salts with certain compounds such as sodium hexametaphosphate could help prevent iodine loss. Extra supplementation of iodine in the salts may be done to compensate for the loss of iodine with time.
Iodine deficiency is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation. Iodized salt is necessary for the prevention of iodine deficiency diseases. The study in Bangladesh found that the iodine content in packed salt decreases over time. Extra iodine needs to be added during the manufacture of packaged salt.
Better education and awareness campaigns are needed to inform households about proper storage practices for maintaining iodine content in salt. Fortifying salts with certain compounds could help prevent iodine loss, and extra supplementation of iodine in the salts may be done to compensate for loss of iodine with time.
Read Also: How to Quit Smoking: A Step-By-Step powerful Guide