Lack of iodine is affecting more areas
By Sun Xiaohua (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-06 05:52

A worrying finding from the latest survey is that some areas that met the standard for iodized salt consumption in 2000 have slipped back.

Beijing and Guangdong Province met the targets for iodized salt consumption in 2000. But last year, 16 per cent of edible salt available on the market in the capital city was not iodized, and the corresponding figure in Guangdong was 12 per cent.

"The sale of fake iodized salt in Beijing is rampant. Some wholesale markets, such as Shuitun in Changping District, have become distribution centres for fake iodized salt," Li said.

"Consumers are unable to tell proper iodized salt from the fake since all the packages are the same, marked 'iodized.' Consumers have no equipment to test the contents," Li said.

It is estimated that of the 10.17 million developmentally-challenged infants in China, about 80 per cent of their mothers did not consume enough iodine when they were pregnant. Each year, about 6 million babies are born in iodine-deficient areas.

"Lack of enough iodine among pregnant women has the most terrible consequences since it destroys the health of the next generation," Li said.

Iodized salt is a very simple, universally effective and incredibly cheap weapon with which to combat IDD, said health expert Li.

The health authorities distribute capsules of iodine oil in some remote areas of Tibet because it is difficult to obtain iodized salt products there.

The State has a monopoly on the production and distribution of iodized salt, but in recent years some private manufacturers have started selling what they claim is iodized salt, and have raked in huge profits.

"Promoting the consumption of iodized salt needs a joint effort by many departments and society at large," said Li.

The crackdown requires the co-ordination of the departments of public security, health and transportation. Education is also needed to boost the consumption of the right kind of salt, Li said.

"In some remote regions, residents have not realized the importance of taking iodized salt and have little knowledge of IDDs, so cheap un-iodized salt rules the market."  

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