Muabia Laboni; Dhaka: There is a significant iodine deficiency in the coarse salt available in the Bangladeshi market, a situation that is raising health risks for a large portion of the population.
Due to its low cost, coarse salt is widely used in restaurants and by low-income households, exacerbating concerns over the health of many people.
Medical experts warn that the lack of iodine in this type of salt can lead to thyroid problems, including goiter, and other health issues.
Additionally, children and adolescents may experience stunted cognitive development, affecting their mental growth.
Recent tests conducted by the Institute of Food Science and Technology under the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and the private Wafen Research Lab have revealed the widespread iodine deficiency in coarse salt.
A consumer, acting in public interest, sent samples of both coarse and fine salt to these institutions for analysis.
The separate reports showed that while iodine levels in salts from six major companies were found to be within normal limits, various brands of coarse salt showed significant deficiencies.
In general, a kilogram of salt requires an iodine supplement costing about 50 paisa, but manufacturers of coarse salt are reportedly unwilling to invest in adding this essential nutrient.
Despite this, many coarse salt packets misleadingly claim to be “iodine-enriched.”
Coarse salt, often sold in plastic bags, is less expensive than fine salt and has a coarser, grainier texture.
Shopkeepers confirm that this type of salt is widely used not only by food manufacturers but also in hotels, restaurants, and by lower-income families for cooking.
The discovery of iodine deficiency in coarse salt highlights a growing public health issue, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to ensure the salt used by millions of people contains sufficient iodine to prevent health risks.