The Hindu : New Delhi News : Ban non-iodised salt, say AIIMS scientists

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Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Ban non-iodised salt, say AIIMS scientists

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22. Scientists from the Centre for Community Medicine at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here have sought re-imposition of the ban on sale of non-iodised salt, claiming that it was affecting proper mental development of children across the country.

Consumption of iodised salt has dropped since the ban on sale of non-iodised salt was lifted by the Central Government in 2000, said experts and scientists at a press conference here today.

``In most States, consumption of iodised salt has come down since the lifting of the ban on non-iodised salt,'' said the senior adviser at the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD), Madhu. G. Karmarkar.

He added that in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, the consumption had dropped to about five per cent (2002) from about 50 per cent before the lifting of the ban (1998-99).

In Maharashtra, it has fallen to about 45 per cent from 60 per cent, Bihar to 25 per cent from 47 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir to 24 per cent from 52 per cent and Delhi to 80 per cent from 89 per cent.

"Though many States, except Gujarat and Kerala, have come up with their own legislations to ban non-iodised salt, these legislations have had little impact.

It is a fact that the Central Government does not have the will to impose something like this and as a result a large section of the population is exposed to the dangers of mental retardation, something that can be curbed by a simple act,'' said Prof. Karmarkar

Over 90 per cent of the population must consume iodised salt to eliminate iodine deficiency as a public health problem, pointed out experts, while in all States the consumption level was below 90 per cent.

"The ill effects of iodine deficiency is well known and it is the unborn child which is most vulnerable. It has been seen that 90 per cent of the growth and development of the human brain takes place between the third month of pregnancy to the third year of life and this makes it vital that all expecting mothers get their daily iodine requirement. We have asked the Prime Minister to look into matter. We have told him that iodine deficiency is the single most common cause of mental retardation and it can be prevented by very simple method,'' explained Chandrakant S. Pandav of the Centre for Community Medicine.

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