Ensure 30 ppm of iodine at production level, says official

Iodisation of salt is mandatory for both producers and consumers, according to Kumar Jayant, Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration.

Delivering the keynote address at Salt Processors’ Meeting organised by the Micronutrient India Initiative (MII), Tuticorin Project Unit, here on Friday, he said that 30 ppm of iodine should be maintained at production level and 15 ppm at consumption level. The Commissioner ruled out any possibility of exempting salt iodisation from the purview of the Food Safety Standards Act.

Mr. Jayant appealed to salt manufacturers to be aware of such parameters.

“Iodised salt has many health benefits and lack of it will raise health concerns.”

The manufacturers of salt should not have any difficulty in adding iodine and the MII has come forward to help them. Food safety officers were also organising awareness programmes on the significance of iodine in salt production and consumption. He said many producers under the unorganised sector had been indulging in false labelling of salt products for sale. V.V. Laxmi, Assistant Salt Commissioner, Tuticorin Division, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, urged the need for building brand equity by maintaining quality standards in production of salt.

“India stands third in salt production globally next to China and the US. Average production of salt per year in India is 200 lakh tonnes. Total average production constitutes 28 per cent on edible consumption, 54 per cent industrial consumption and 18 per cent on export trade,” she said. Michael Motha, Member, Central Advisory Board for Salt, New Delhi, and Managing Director, Sahayamatha Salt Refinery, said that 71 million people were suffering from iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). It was the leading cause of mental retardation, he said. Under the 12th Five Year Plan, India is aiming at bringing down the prevalence of IDD to below five per cent. To increase salt production, the state government should provide loans liberally on long term lease.

A.R.A.S. Dhanabalan, Secretary, Tuticorin Small Scale Salt Manufacturers Association, sought preventive measures to control pollution, which contaminates salt products.