Determination of Iodine Content of Commercially Available Table Salts at the Retailer Level in Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Aims: Iodine deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies in Bangladesh. To combat iodine deficiency disorders, universal salt iodization is mandatory in Bangladesh. The aim of our study was to determine the iodine content of both packaged and open edible table salts sold at the retailer level in different areas of Bangladesh.

Study Design: The study is an experimental cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted in the food analysis laboratory of Department of Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University from March 2019 to June 2019. A total of 90 salt samples were collected from ten retailers selected based on convenience sampling from two districts: Dhaka and Noakhali. Among the samples, 45 were packaged salts from Fifteen different brands and the rest of the 45 samples were non brand open salt.

Methodology: The iodine content of iodized salt samples was determined by the iodometric titration method.

Results: The mean iodine content of both types of salts is 17.801±1.973 ppm. The mean iodine contents of packaged salts and open salts are 30.691±2.679 ppm and 4.912±1.008 ppm, respectively. Only 42% of the total salt samples are adequately iodized (>20 ppm). 75% of packaged salt samples are adequately iodized and only 8% of open salt samples are adequately iodized.

Conclusion: As iodine content in open table salts doesn’t meet the criteria set by the government, the sale of open salt for human consumption should be stopped.