*** New standards for iodine content begin to be implemented

The newspaper (Reporter Fang Fang) started yesterday and the country’s new edible salt iodine content standard has been implemented, providing three standards that allow each province to choose according to different circumstances. Beijing chose the standard of 25 mg/kg as the standard of salt and iodine in the city. For special needs populations such as pregnant women and breast-feeding women, the city will provide salt for pregnant women with an average iodine content of 30 mg/kg, which is higher than the general iodized salt.

China is one of the countries that are the most threatened by iodine deficiency disorders. Except for Shanghai, the 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps all have varying degrees of iodine deficiency disorders. In 1993, China comprehensively launched comprehensive prevention and control measures based on the popularization of iodized salt. By the end of 2011, 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) had reached the provincial goal of eliminating iodine deficiency disorders.

The standards for iodine content of edible salt determined for the first time in China in 1994 are: iodine concentration of iodine salt (measured as iodide ion) is 50 mg/kg, factory is not less than 40 mg/kg, and sales is not less than 30 mg /kg, user is not less than 20 mg/kg. Subsequently, China's salt iodine content rule in 1996 must not exceed the upper limit of 60 mg/kg. In 2000, the salt iodine content standard was reduced to 35 mg/kg. Due to the vastness of China's territory and the difference in eating habits, the intake of salt varies greatly. The level of urinary iodine varies from place to person in different regions. The unified salt iodine content standard cannot meet the needs of the population. In September 2011, the Ministry of Health issued the national food safety standard "Iodized salt for edible salt", which will be implemented on March 15 this year. The average level of iodine in table salt was reduced from the original processing level of 35 mg/kg to the product level of 20 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg, divided into 20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg. The new standard stipulates that all localities can supply one, two or three levels of iodized salt with iodine in the province's population.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Health recently invited the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Municipal Education Commission, the Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Municipal Bureau of Finance, the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce, and the Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision to jointly study the standards for the implementation of salt iodine content in the city. According to the findings of the iodine nutritional status survey of key population groups in the city and expert opinion, the city has decided to use the standard of 25 mg/kg, which is an average of 25 mg of iodine per kilogram of salt. The fluctuation range is no more than 18 to 33 mg.

Monitoring and special survey data show that the daily intake of iodine in China is mainly from iodized salt. If you stop eating salt and add iodine, so that residents do not eat iodized salt, will lead to serious consequences of iodine deficiency in the population, especially the fetus and infants and young children will be the first to be harmed, will damage the brain development and affect the quality of our population. Therefore, in addition to continuing to provide iodized salt, the city will provide pregnant women with an average iodine content of 30 mg / kg of salt for pregnant women.