Tag: Uniodized salt

Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was to combat this public health crisis that many countries began fortifying table salt with iodine, which is the primary difference between iodized and uniodized salt.

According to the National Institutes of Health, many specialty salts such as kosher, sea, and Himalayan salt are not fortified with iodine. This means that for those following a low-iodine diet or with specific culinary preferences, there are several reliable options available for finding what kind of salt is iodine free.

Before the 1920s, iodine deficiency was a significant health issue in parts of the United States, leading to the fortification of table salt. While most standard table salt is iodized, many specialty salts, like kosher and pink Himalayan salt, do not have added iodine. This provides a variety of options for those needing or preferring to avoid iodine fortification.

According to the World Health Organization, salt iodization is a simple, cost-effective public health measure. However, many types of salt do not have iodine in it, and people might seek them for various reasons, from flavor preferences to specific health advice.