Australian Academy of Sciences committee advocates for iodized salt in bread mandate

A July 28 news release from the Australian Academy of Sciences reported that the ASA called on Australia's food industry to implement the new government mandate for use of iodized salt in bread.  The committee cited "growing concerns about iodine deficiency in women and children" in Australia.

Take time to add a comment?

Today's Wall Street Journal featured an article by Bjorn Lomberg on behalf of the Copenhagen Collaboration offering thoughts on "how to get the biggest bang for $10 billion."  The article invites readers to share their perspective.  Currently, the Copenhagen Collaboration ranks salt iodization as the third most cost effective public health.  Perhaps you want to join the discussion.

Invest in micronutrient/iodine nutrition to sustain growth: Nobel Prize economist

With governments pinched between high food prices and astronomical oil prices, 2004 Nobel Economics prize-winner Finn E. Kydland has vocally advocated shunning consumer subsidies in favor of investing in sustainable growth, particularly in directing resources to micronutrient nutrition including promoting iodized salt.  The International News (Karachi, Pakistan) has the story.

Pakistan's "national coalition" and UNICEF to partner on USI

TheNetwork for Consumer Protection and UNICEF have announced a joint campaign to promote universal salt iodization in Pakistan according to arabianbusiness.com.   The joint announcement emphasized the need for close cooperation between government, salt producers, consumers, development partners and civil society to address the public health challenge of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs).

Prospective mothers using iodized salt avoid maternal thyroid failure: new study

A new study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that "Prolonged iodized salt significantly improves maternal thyroid economy and reduces the risk of maternal thyroid insufficiency during gestation, probably because of a nearly restoring intrathyroidal iodine stores." 

American Geological Institute touts salt as "the ultimate medicinal vehicle" for IDD and infectious disease

Iodized salt features prominently in the June cover story in Geotimes, the magazine of the American Geologicial Institute as described in this Salt Institute blog.

Pakistani cabinet sends USI bill to Parliament

A story in the June 27 Post, reports that Pakistan's health minister Sherry Rehman has announced that the cabinet has approved and sent to Parliament for enactment a new law ensuring production, storage, sale and distribution of iodised salt in the country.

UNICEF report publicizes global progress against IDD

Thanks to a global campaign by UNICEF and its partners (ICCIDD was first-named), about 70% of households around the world are now receiving iodine through iodized salt, and 34 countries have universal salt iodization, according to a new UNICEF report, Sustainable Elimination of Iodine Deficiency, issued June 26.  As recently ago as two decades, only 20% of households were receiving sufficient levels of iodine. At the time, IDD was a public health problem affecting an estimated 2 billion people.

Oman enforces USI

Oman has ordered the well-known NIZO salt brand removed from commerce for its failure to follow salt iodization regulations, according to Al Shabiba Omani, the local newspaper.

Nigeria begins crackdown on bulk salt packages to promote USI

According to Vanguard.com and the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos, agents of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have begun seizing illegally-large packages of salt - both iodized and plain.� New regulations require salt to be in bags 1 kg or smaller.

Survey shows continuing challenge in Ghana

A Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Ghana by the Statistical Service of Ghana and the Ghana Health Service has found disturbing, continuing problems in achieving USI, a story yesterday on allAfrica.com reported.

Australia renews ICCIDD assistance; enables work in 8 more countries

PR roll-out educates Aussies on IDD and USI

Expect to see stories like this from The Canberra Times as Australia moves towards implementing its decision to require use of iodized salt in bread.

Copenhagen Consensus rates salt iodization third most cost-effective public health intervention

Economists convened by the Copenhagen Consensus have ranked more than 40 public health interventions to help policy-makers determine where best to apply scarce resources.  Iodizing salt ranked #3.

May IDD Newsletter posted; features challenges in Russia

Read all about the challenges of bringing salt iodization to Russia...and lots more ... in the May issue of IDD Newsletter, now online.

Pakistan moves ahead on iodization

Refusing to be distracted by chronic political discord and the threat of radical terrorists, Pakistan's embattled government is launching a two-pronged attack on IDD.  The intitiative follows discussions between the government and ICCIDD.  Specifically

Nutritional challenges remain in Central Asia

Reuters features iodine deficiency among the nutritional problems challenging central Asian countries.  The article features an interview with UNICEF's Arnold Timmer.

Pandav editorial extols national coalition for Indian USI effort

Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, ICCIDD's Regional Coordinator for South Asia, with colleagues A. Somos-Krishnan, A. Chakrabarty and M.G. Karmarkar, are the authors of an editorial in the current (Jan-Mar 2008) edition of the Indian Journal of Public Health (password required) arguing for an effective national coalition to implement USI in India.

Eastman hits Australian limited salt iodization plan as "inadequate" and "half-baked"

The FSANZ plan to require iodized salt only in breads is "inadequate" according to ICCIDD vice-chair Dr. Cres Eastman.  Eastman told the Melbourne Herald Sun that the plan "half-baked."

Iodized salt advances in Central Asia

More than 100 participants from five Central Asian countries met in Turkmenistan to plan how to accelerate progress, according to both ReliefWeb and IRIN.

Publicity supporting iodized salt builds in Australia

ICCIDD regional coordinator and Board vice-chairman Dr. Cres Eastman is featured in this early story about the need to iodize salt in Australia.  FSANZ has proposed that Australian bakers, like those earlier mandated in New Zealand, should use iodized salt in bread, beginning in September 2009.

ICCIDD Gulf States Coordinator leads major international conference

With ICCIDD Gulf States coordinator Dr. Izzeldin Hussein in the chair as well as delivering a presentation on global progress towards universal salt iodization, scientists from America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia gathered in Oman March 8-10 for The International Conference on the Economic Importance of Sea Foods and their Impact on Public Health.

New Zealand: next phase--public education

The Times carries this story publicizing the recently-determined mandate to use iodized salt in bread.

FSANZ moves on iodization in Australia

Having just finalized FSANZ P230 to require iodized salt in most bread in New Zealand, FSANZ announced today it will shortly commence a 4-week consultation on P1003 to put the same measure in place in Australia.

Progress in India, but more than half still don't use iodized salt

The Hindu carried an IDD story Sunday noting that production targets for iodized salt have been reached, but 51% of the population is still not choosing to use iodized salt. 

Ethiopian iodine efforts devastated by war

Until its 1998-2000 war with seceeding Eritrea, Ethiopia relied on saltworks there and at least had hope of overcoming its widespread iodine deficiency.  No more.  Denied Eritrean salt, fully 80% of Ethiopia's population suffers from IDD as explained in this sad report.

FSANZ finalizes mandate of iodized salt use in New Zealand bread

As promised, the Food Standards Agency for Australia and New Zealand has issued its decision requiring that breads baked in New Zealand use iodized salt.� FSANZ will continue to deliberate on whether similar requirements should be imposed in Australia.

February IDD Newsletter features iodine in pregnancy and infancy

Enjoy the February issue of ICCIDD's IDD Newsletter featuring a review of "Reaching optimal iodine nutrition in pregnant and lactating woemn and young children."

African health ministers highlight importance of ending IDD

Meeting this week in the Seychelles, health ministers from eastern and southern Africa conducted a special session on iodine nutrition and agreed that iodine deficiency is "a serious by relatively unrecognized impediment ot human development in Africa," reports Africa Science News Service. 

Ghana designates salt a "strategic industry" and targets it for assistance

Ghana has announced steps to improve its salt industry, currently estimated to be producing only 250,000 tonnes, about 10% of its capacity.  ModernGhana.com attributes the situation to "inefficient production methods, obsolete machinery, lack of capital and industry data information and weak production infrastructure."

Joe Baidoo-Ansah (Minister for Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI) announced recently investments in the salt industry.� He "said the salt industry had been identified as one of the strategic industries in which the country had high growth potentials" and investments "would transform the Ghanaian salt industry into an internationally competitive one."

Iodized salt linked to improved child health in Indonesia

US researchers writing in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that two-thirds of slum-dwelling Indonesians use iodized salt and that those using the iodine-fortified salt had significantly lower infant and child mortality rates and less incidence of stunting and under-weight development.

Basil Hetzel is a recipient of the 2007 Prince Mahidol Award for his pioneering work on IDD

Iodized cheese?

Kraft Foods announced today a new food with human-safe pesticides intended to eliminate intestinal worms in tropical countries with inadequate sanitation.  The New York Times story on the new food mentions how Kraft has also developed for sale in the Philippines iodine-fortified, Eden-brand cheese.

Lancet publishes special series on undernutrition

The weight on policy priority in public health nutrition in recent years has undervalued hunger and malnutrition in favor of attacking problems associated with dietary excess.  The global initiative against obesity and its consequences in terms of diabetes and heart disease is the most visible among them.

The Lancet aims to restore balance to the discussion with a special series in its January 19th issue with articles on maternal and child nutrition that should kept close at hand by all supporters of adequate iodine nutrition.  These articles (free but registration required) are available online, including discussions of 1) exposures and health consequences, 2) consequences for health and human capital, 3) what (intervention) works? 4) effective action at the national level and 5) why has it proven so difficult and what can be done to accelerate progress.

Hetzel prize reaps IDD PR

Basil Hetzel's prize boosted public discussion of the IDD problem.  This from Australia's national radio, ABC.

Nutrition an "economic imperative": World Bank

A new series of reports in The Lancet makes it clear that "over-nutrition" has not replaced the need to ensure adquate intakes of key nutrients in the diets of those in the developing world.  The Voice of America reports that iodizing salt returns $28 in health benefits for every dollar spent.

What a difference 25 years -- and Iodized Salt -- can make!

George McBean visited Nepal in 1982 with an UNICEF team documenting the widespread prevalence of goiters, the most visible manifestation of IDD.  He returned recently and found a much different situation.

Hetzel gets prize this week

The King of Thailand will be awarding the prestigious Prince Mahidol prize this week (Jan 30) to three internationally-distinguished physicians for their lifetimes of dedicated service to improving health.� Among the three:� ICCIDD co-founder and longtime chairman Basil Hetzel of Australia.� Basil's work has inspired a renewed commitment to iodizing salt around the world, protecting millions against mental retardation caused by IDD.

American Thyroid Association issues call for proposals for research grants

The American Thyroid Association has issued a call for proposals.  ATA is funding research into better ways of diagnosing and treating throid diseases.  Deadline:  January 31.

IDD: Not just a problem in remote mountainous areas

Long explained as a product of diets dependent on local foods produced from iodine-leached soils in remote mountain areas, Iodine Deficiency Disorders remain a prime health threat in urban slums, a story today from India reminds us.  Nearly 24% of slum-dwelling children in Bhubaneswar had IDD, according to a new report in the Indian Journal of Paediatrics.

Iodized salt key to success in Kashmir

Noted endocrinologist and Director SK Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, Dr A H Zargar has publicly credited the large scale consumption of iodized salt in Kashmir as one of the reasons of the decrease in occurrence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

UN focuses on iodization progress, challenges

Under the banner "A Triumph in the Making,"  U.N. delegates at the UNGASS II meeting held at UN headquarters, December 10-12 reviewed progress on their commitments to children.  Get details.

Good monitoring in Vietnam identifies needy areas

India's small producers pitch in to combat IDD

Collaborative efforts between local producers with small holdings, civil authority and groups, State Government and international agencies like MI, UNICEF, WFP and ICCIDD are aimed at increasing production of iodized salt by the small producers of Rajasthan, India, and results are beginning to show modest progress, reports One World South Asia.

ICCIDD's Hetzel wins Thai lifetime achievement award

Former Chair, Executive Director and Founder of ICCIDD recognized for life achievements on iodine nutrition and protection of brain development by prestigious Mahidol Foundation in Thailand, The Nation (Bangkok) reported November 28th.

Partnership spurs anti-IDD effort in Sri Lanka

The national effort to achieve USI and to eliminate IDD in a sustained fashion is a demonstration of public, private, civic and scientific bodies working together toward the national nutrition goal.  All reports indicate an achievement of significance for the future of the people of Sri Lanka.  The Government of Sri Lanka has stated its willingness to have a neutral international assessment of the progress to date.

The World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean Region has bestowed the 2007 Kuwait Foundation Prize on Professor Fereidoun Azizi for his work combatting diabetes.  Dr. Azizi directs the Endocrine Research Centre at Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran and is ICCIDD's Regional Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.  Congratulations!

Vietnam illustrates value of monitoring

The disappointing news reported by WHO in Vietnam seems to indicate that access to iodized salt has been declinging in some areas.  That dissapointing report, however, masks some good news. The situation was revealed by the accurate monitoring system in place by the Government of Vietnam.

More from the front lines in Nigeria

If actual progress on the ground is as consistent as news reports, Nigeria's success is assured.

Tanzania study shows broad access to iodized salt

A study by VD Assey, et al.in the October issue of Public Health Nutrition found 83% of surveyed households in iodine-deficient areas are using iodized salt and 94% of shops offering iodized salt for sale.  Overall, goiter rates have declined in these challenged districts from 65.4% of the population to 24.3%.

Nigeria advances on the home front

With her "missionary work" of promoting USI in Ukraine complete, director-general Dr. Dora Akunyili of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has turned her attention to ensuring the sustainability of her country's USI program.  Continue to read the AllAfrica.com report.

Laos records progress

Sometimes it's not the statistics that catch public interest and create awareness. This recent item on New Mandala describes progress combatting IDD in Laos.

Ghana takes aim at IDD

Led by Jacob Armah, head of the nutrition unit of the Ghana Health Service, a new multi-stakeholder coalition is forming to combat iodine deficiency as part of a national education reform initiative.  Armah told ModernGhana.com that about 81,200 babies are born annually with mental impairments as a result of such deficiencies, and suffer from stunted growth and low Intelligence Quotients (IQs), thereby impeding their learning abilities when they grow up.

Mr Armah, expressed these concerns, at a stakeholders’ seminar to “devise strategies for achieving universal salt iodation in Ghana” at Elmina.

On October 29-30, about 100 nutrition experts will be meeting in Kazakhstan in the Third Almaty Forum on Food Fortification, brought together by the Asian Development Bank, Turkish Weekly reports.  ADB has led a 6-country assault on iodine deficiency and inadequate dietary iron, investing $8.8 million (US) since 2001 in projects in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

A public health triumph in the making

Meeting this week for its 78th annual meeting, the American Thyroid Association organized a special symposium on iodine deficiency to honor the late Dr. Francois Delange, former executive director of ICCIDD.  The symposium was chaired by ICCIDD chair Jerry Burrow.   UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kul Gautam delivered a stirring charge to delegates.

Nigeria's salt iodization:? model for Ukraine

At the invitation of UNICEF/Ukraine Professor Dora Akunyili, Director-General of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),?shared her experience in achieving universal salt iodization in her country with a multi-stakeholder group in Ukraine.

Pakistani voices in rising demand for action against IDD

A public appeal in Karachi's The News September 28 illustates a rising chorus of popular awareness about the ravages of IDD and a demand that the government require universal salt iodization.

Bhutan's IDD success a model for other micronutrient efforts

Having achieved universal salt iodization in 2003, Bhutan is moving on to eradicate iron deficiency anemia -- using the momentum of its success overcoming IDD.  The assessment was posted September 28.

Gates voices value of iodized salt, public health progress

"Some lifesaving solutions can be extremely simple—iodized salt to prevent stunted growth, for example, or oral rehydration solutions to fight diarrhea," writes Microsoft founder and global humanitarian Bill Gates in this week's Newsweek.  Gates reported great progress in providing tools and facilities to promote global health.

Salt iodization in Pakistan skyrockets

In the past year, salt iodizaiton in Pakistan has jumped from 17% to 67%, spurred by a national coalition led by the UN World Food Programme, UNICEF, the Micronutrient Initiative and the Ministry of Health.  Pakistan has been a particularly difficult situation and this progress is gratifying. Read more in the Daily Times.

The September issue of Hot Thyroidology has several important articles worth reading:

1. Eduardo Pretel & Geraldo Medeiros-Neto "The Past, Present and Future Status of Iodine Nutrition in Latin America"
2. Creswell Eastman and Mu Li, "Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in the Asia Pacific Region"
3. Peter Laurberg et al, "How do we optimize iodine intake to minimize the occurence of thyroid disorders in Europe?"
4. Angela M. Leung and Elizabeth N. Pearce, "Iodine nutrition in North America"
5. Michael Derwahl, "Thyroid nodules and nodular goitre: A stem cell disease?" and from the August issue:
6. Bernard Rees Smith, et al, "The TSH receptor -- a new crystal structure"

Gates Foundation to provide iodized salt in flood-ravaged Nepal and Bangladesh

Monsoon rains have produced devastating floods in Nepal and Bangladesh depriving tens of thousands of children and their parents the basic necessities of life, including iodized salt.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided a half-million dollar grant to Save the Children for humanitarian assistance including provision of iodized salt.

August IDD Newsletter reports continuing progress in the global campaign against IDD through successful national efforts in Ukraine, Italy, Equatorial Guinea, Mongolia, Cameroon, Indonesia, China, Australia and New Zealand. 

Malnutrition kills nearly 6 million children a year

Malnutrition continues to be one of the most serious problems in the developing world, reports the Voice of America. VOA said a new report from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) says malnutrition plays a role in the deaths of almost six million children each year, a large number of these deaths preventable through low-cost, highly effective, well-known interventions, such as fortifying foods with iodized salt.

Dispatch from the front in northwest Pakistan

While newspaper headlines concerning northwest Pakistan usually focus on the area as a sanctuary for Al Quaeda jihadists, a Reuters story describes the other battle raging in the area -- the campaign to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders, particularly among Pakistani children in the North West Frontier Province.

ICCIDD Board members join in recognizing China's salt iodization progress

ICCIDD chairman Jerry Burrow, executive director David Haxton and Board members Jack Ling, Chen Zupei and Dick Hanneman, gathered together in Beijing for the Board meeting of The Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency, participated in a half-day celebratory meeting sponsored by China's Ministry of Health recognizing the enormous -- and continuing -- advances China has made in overcoming IDD.� The meeting drew media attention to the role of iodizing salt for public health.

Challenges remain in reaching remote provinces in western China and in some areas of the coast where small local salt farmers feed non-iodized salt into the consumer marketplace.

This Spring, a national Health Week nutrition education and awareness program educated 6 million Uzbeki schoolchildren in 10,000 schools in that country.  Iodizing salt was prominent in the program and in the news coverage.

The World Health Assembly in Geneva has just approved -- unanimously -- a resolution offered by Peru that directs national health departments to report the status of their efforts to promote universal salt iodization (USI) every three years. ICCIDD urged delegates to approve the resolution.

One province in Northwest China is turning to subsidizing consumer purchases of iodized salt as a new means of eliminating IDD.

Uzbekistan moved a step closer to an effective salt iodization program, observers agree. 

Welcome to ICCIDD's new website.

The Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiencies has a new chairman, executive director and address.