NEW DELHI: The Centre is considering a total ban on the use of non-iodised salt in the country. A draft notification to this effect, seeking comments, has been issued.

The need for amending the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 follows a study by the National Institute of Nutrition that suggests that no State or Union Territory was free from iodine deficiency, though there were some deficiency-free districts.

At present, the Centre can ban any edible commodity under Section 23 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act to protect public health while Section 7 (IV) of the Act empowered States to ban the sale of such items.

Continue to be endemic

The survey, carried out by the Hyderabad-based NIN between 2000-2005, suggests that Iodine Deficiency Diseases continue to be endemic in 21 of 40 select districts in which the study was done. Considering the cut-off level of Total Goitre Rate of less than 5 per cent as suggested by the IDD, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund, majority of districts surveyed (37 of the 40) were endemic for IDD. Even people living in coastal areas were found to be consuming less iodine.

Banned by States in 1997

The State Governments had banned the sale of non-iodised salt in November 1997 that was followed by the Centre imposing a ban in 1998. However, the Centre lifted the ban in 2000 following a recommendation from the States during the State Health Ministers conference. But States such as Kerala continued the ban and Gujarat and Orissa re-imposed the prohibition in 2001.

It was in 2004 that the Supreme Court ruled that the States could not impose a permanent ban. At present the sale of non-iodised salt is banned in 23 States. Non-iodised salt is banned in all SAARC countries.

The survey was carried out in 40 select districts of 20 States from different regions where maximum prevalence of goitre had been reported in earlier surveys. The study indicated a significant reduction in the prevalence of TGR to about 3-40 per cent from 14-69 per cent as reported by the earlier survey carried out by the Director-General of Health Services. The extent of reduction was relatively more in the north-eastern States where higher levels of awareness about iodised salt, as well as higher consumption, compared to districts in the other regions, was observed.

The study indicated that only about 0-32 per cent of the households were consuming un-iodised salts in most parts of the country, a relatively higher proportion of salt samples in the north-eastern States had adequate iodine content.

Not harmful

Debunking the belief that excess of iodine was harmful for health, the survey pointed out that extra iodine was excreted through urine.

The survey was carried out in collaboration with the PGI (Chandigarh), the Regional Medical Research Centre (Bhubaneswar), the Assam Medical College (Dibrugarh), the Surat Medical College (Surat) and the NIN (Hyderabad).

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |