Salt Iodization into the Modern Era and Beyond

Abstract

Following from the history described in Chap. 1, the present chapter describes the scientific basis for, and the worldwide acceleration of, national IDD prevention programs from the continuous expansion of salt iodization strategies in country upon country starting from the mid-twentieth century. The vision of global IDD prevention and control was first formulated in 1960 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Commitments made by the heads of state and government at the World Summit for Children in 1990 prompted a 10 year period of multisector collaborative actions especially in the developing world, which raised the coverage and access of adequately iodized consumer salt to 70 % worldwide by 2000. The period after the year 2000 witnessed a slower but continued increase in the worldwide iodized salt supplies, along with a steady reduction in the number of countries still considered deficient. The chapter outlines the up-to-date insights into the modern methods and approaches to establish true universal salt iodization (USI). Again in 2014 and based on a meta-analysis of research findings, WHO strongly recommended the mandatory iodization of all dietary salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Current program management concerns include an increase in the salt intake from processed foods that occurs with economic development and the challenges in aligning the two salt-based strategies of salt intake reduction and salt iodization. The chapter ends with a premonition that the sustained prevention of IDD requires assurance that USI has become established as a habitual norm in iodine nutrition policy and practice worldwide.