The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Majority of salt producers is allegedly cheating consumers in the name of iodised salt, revealed a study yesterday, recommending for an urgent amendments to the relevant laws and ensuring stern actions against offenders to save hundreds from Goitre, brain damage and loss of cognitive power.

The survey conducted in 2004-'05 found that 94 percent of iodised factory salt samples were somewhat iodised, but only four (04) percent of them had contained a mandatory range of 45-50 ppm for adequate iodine.

Only 46 percent plants were confirmed of using 30 ppm of iodine in salts, well below the required level, while others use even lesser amount of potassium iodate, which costs only eight paisa (Tk. 0.08) per kg at production level.

This small production cost, he said, might eventually charge Taka 1 at best at the consuming level, but producers deliberately cheat people to avoid extra costs. And very few people are well aware of it, he observed.

He also suggested for launching a massive awareness campaign both at urban and rural areas so that people use quality iodized salt with bit higher prices.

"Rural areas, particularly the northern districts, have considerably poorer iodine status than urban areas," said principal investigator of the survey, Dr Harun KM Yusuf, a professor of Dhaka University, at an advocacy meeting at Sonargaon hotel.

Prof. Harun said the previous campaigns for iodine salts have made certain progress since 1993, but the successes were overshadowed by salt producers' forgery. He said iodized salt coverage rose to 84 percent in 2006 from only 19 percent in 1993, but inadequate quantity of iodine were found among salts from half of the companies.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant on Industries and Civil Aviation Mahbub Jamil attended the function as the chief guest, jointly organised by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and UNICEF.

Health Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin, Industries Secretary Sheikh Enayetullah, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Dr Iyorlumun Uhaa, USAID representative Lois Bradshaw, UNICEF nutrition manager Josephine Iziku Ippe and Director of IPHN Dr. Fatima Parveen Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion, chaired by chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) M Mahbubur Rahman.