Tag: Universal salt iodization

According to UNICEF, salt iodization programs have dramatically reduced iodine deficiency worldwide, with an estimated 88% of the global population using iodized salt in 2018. These programs represent a cost-effective and widespread public health strategy designed to fortify a common household staple with a critical micronutrient. By understanding how these initiatives operate, we can appreciate their significant role in eliminating a leading preventable cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2020, about 89% of the world's population had access to iodized salt, a significant public health achievement. The addition of iodine to salt is a global effort to combat iodine deficiency disorders.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iodine deficiency remains the single most significant cause of preventable mental retardation worldwide. A global iodine deficiency control program, primarily centered on universal salt iodization (USI), is a comprehensive public health initiative designed to eliminate this pervasive and damaging nutritional issue.