Assey, V.D., Peterson, S. and Greiner, T. (2008) Sustainable universal salt iodization in low-income countries – time to re-think strategies? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62 (2). pp. 292-294. ISSN 0954-3007 (Print), 1476-5640 (Online) (doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602737)

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Abstract

Objective: Sustained iodine deficiency control requires sustainable mechanisms for iodine supplementation. We aim to describe the status of salt iodation machines, salt producers’ experiences and quality of salt produced in Tanzania.

Methods: Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the factory sites, observations were made on the status of UNICEF-supplied assisted-iodation machines and convenience samples of salt from 85 salt production facilities were analysed for iodine content.

Results: A total of 140 salt works visited had received 72 salt iodation machines in 1990s, but had largely abandoned them due to high running and maintenance costs. Locally devised simple technology was instead being used to iodate salt. High variability of salt iodine content was found and only 7% of samples fell within the required iodation range.

Conclusion: Although iodine content at factory level is highly variable, overall iodine supply to the population has been deemed largely sufficient. The need for perpetual iodine fortification requires reassessment of salt iodation techniques and production-monitoring systems to ensure sustainability. The emerging local technologies need evaluation as alternative approaches for sustaining universal salt iodation in low-income countries with many small-scale salt producers.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	[1] Published online: 21 March 2007. [2] Published in print: February 2008. [3] Financial support was provided by The Government of Tanzania, International Program for Chemical Sciences (IPICS) and UNICEF.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	iodine deficiency, iodine supply and distribution, Tanzania
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation Organisation
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2019 13:49
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/9547

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