Israel to Fortify Table Salt with Iodine to Combat Widespread Deficiency

Israel's Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday a new preventative measure to address a significant iodine deficiency across the country, particularly among children and pregnant women. The ministry will begin fortifying table salt with iodine, a move described as a simple, safe, and population-wide intervention.

Iodine is crucial for thyroid hormone production, essential for growth, development, and metabolism. A deficiency can lead to serious health issues, including cognitive and neurological impairment, increased risk of stillbirth and infant mortality, birth defects, goiters, and hypothyroidism. The ministry cited a representative sample of the Israeli population revealing that approximately 60% of children and 85% of pregnant women have a significant iodine deficit.

This initiative aligns with a global public health strategy, as over 120 countries have implemented mandatory iodine fortification of salt. The new regulations will apply to table salt sold in household packaging, not to salt used by the food industry. Table salt accounts for about 85-90% of household salt purchases in Israel.

The fortification level will be set at 30 milligrams of iodine per kilogram of salt, aiming to provide about 45 micrograms of iodine daily. This is expected to cover 30% of the recommended daily intake, or 20-50% depending on the population group. The ministry emphasized that this is a conservative dosage based on current scientific knowledge and has broad professional consensus due to its proven health benefits.

The primary goal of this regulation is to reduce iodine deficiency rates, prevent long-term health consequences, and improve overall public health in Israel. The ministry also reiterated that recommendations to reduce overall salt consumption for general health remain unchanged.