What is it about?
The Vietnamese salt iodization program, as it was initially designed and implemented, was unsustainable, as salt iodization was not practiced as an industry norm but as a government-funded activity. An effective and sustainable salt iodization program needs to be reestablished for the long-term elimination of iodine deficiency, building upon lessons learned from the past and programs in neighboring countries. The new program will need to include mandatory legislation, including salt for food processing; industry responsibility for the cost of fortificant; government commitment for enforcement through routine food control systems and monitoring of iodine status through existing health/nutrition assessments; and intersectoral collaboration and management of the program.
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Why is it important?
Many of the lessons would apply equally to universal salt iodization programs in other countries and indeed to food fortification programs in general.
Perspectives
“It is also a question of how much time it takes to clear the shelves of non-iodized salt, which “won’t happen overnight”, said Roger Mathisen, a nutrition specialist at UNICEF’s office in Vietnam.” “ It is better to target salt, as most condiments already include it, said UNICEF’s Mathisen, who noted regulating the salt industry is easier than setting up parallel monitoring and enforcement systems.” “But it is not just a question of building back, said Mathisen. “The issue is how to build back better. What existed was obviously not sustainable.” Ref: The New Humanitarian: http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/report/96740/analysis-salt-life-dries-vietnam
Roger Mathisen
FHI 360
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Rise and Fall of Universal Salt Iodization in Vietnam, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, November 2015, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0379572115616039.
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