Press Centre 2005/07/14: Health

Logo designed to emphasise iodised salt content and its benefits on packaging. The byline reads: For healthy and clever generations -- use iodised salt.

Only Iodised Salt for Sale

Iodised salt for healthy and clever generations

An amendment jointly introduced to the Salt Communiqué by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has banned direct marketing of non-iodised table salt to consumers.

The change relating to salt production and consumption was made to protect people from iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), especially mental and physical retardation among children, and to ensure that at least 90% of consumers are using iodised salt by the end of 2005.

Regular daily intake of the micronutrient iodine is essential for healthy life. Depending upon age, a person needs to consume between 90 and 150 microgrammes of iodine per day. A high incidence of iodine deficiency in the population will have an adverse effect on public health and the economy of the nation as a whole.

Adverse consequences of iodine deficiency include:

mental retardation; stunted growth; deafness; paralysis; birth defects; higher infant and child mortality; miscarriage; infertility; goitre at any age; cognitive and perceptual defects in both children and adults;
lower yields of meat, milk, wool, eggs etc. from animals; repetitive miscarriages and feeble newborns;
working days lost for health reasons; cost of medical diagnosis and intervention; economic losses caused by low yields in stockbreeding.

The Global Picture

Roughly 1.6 billion people in 113 countries are at risk because of iodine deficiency. While more than 700 million people suffer goitre, more than 40 million are debilitated with mental impairments due to iodine deficiency.

The Situation in Turkey

Iodine deficiency is an important public health issue in Turkey as well. Various surveys show that the prevalence of goitre in the country is as high as 31%. But goitre is only the tip of the iceberg: incidence of problems such as those listed above tends not to be associated with iodine deficiency -- this is the hidden part of the iceberg which is much more problematic.

What do people need to do for healthy and intelligent generations?

use only iodised salt;
warn shopkeepers marketing non-iodised salt and catering establishments using non-iodised salt about the recent legislative change;
inform provincial and district level Agriculture Directorates about anyone who continues to market and/or use non-iodised salt following such warnings.

Note to editors:

The amendment mentioned above (Communiqué no. 2004/44) was published in the Official Journal no 25699,13 January 2005.

The MOA is authorised to exercise control over salt from production to marketing with legal sanctions for groceries, markets, restaurants and other such places selling and/or using non-iodised salt.

The Programme for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) and Salt Iodisation was launched in 1994 by the MOH and the iodisation of table salt was made mandatory in 1999. Turkey is committed to the global target of eliminating the problem by the end of 2005. While only 18% of people consumed iodised salt in 1995, in 2003 it was found that iodised salt consumption had increased significantly to 70% However, while this rate is as high as 78% in urban areas, it falls to 48% in rural areas. Furthermore, a urine iodine assessment survey of schoolchildren in 30 provinces in 2002 showed that, with the exception of 6 provinces, iodine intake is below required levels.

For the full elimination of iodine deficiency, iodised salt should be used by at least 90% of all households.

Countries such as Switzerland and Canada spotted the problem as early as the 1920s and eliminated it through iodised table salt. A further 27 highly populated countries with plenty of salt producers, including China, have managed to eliminate the problem fully.

For further information contact:

Canan Sargın, Health Programme Officer, UNICEF Turkey, +90 (0)312 454 1000

Iodised Salt: Clever Salt! For your children’s healthy development and success at school use iodised salt

This poster was produced by UNICEF and the MOH to promote nationwide iodised salt usage in Turkey. Print-optimised versions are available for download in the following standard formats [PDF 520KB approx.]:

The artwork is supplied free for the promotion of iodised salt usage provided that it is not altered in any way, shape or form or that it used in any way other than its intended purpose.

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