In the battle against hidden hunger, one humble kitchen ingredient is proving to be a real game changer salt. But not just any salt Double Fortified Salt, enriched with both iron and iodine, is emerging as a simple yet powerful solution to tackle two major nutritional deficiencies.
What is Double Fortified Salt ?
Double Fortified Salt is regular salt that has been enhanced with iron and iodine, two essential micronutrients that our bodies need to function properly. This innovation provides:
- 100% of the recommended daily iodine intake
- 30–60% of the recommended daily iron intake
By consuming Double Fortified Salt as part of a regular diet, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing iron and iodine deficiency related health problems. Salt is an ideal vehicle for this because it’s used daily, across all income and social groups, and doesn’t require any change in food habits.
Why Fortify Salt with Iodine?
Few nations faces a widespread risk of iodine deficiency disorders due to naturally low iodine levels in the soil. Factors like glaciation, erosion, deforestation, and shifting rivers have stripped away iodine from the topsoil, making crops and diets iodine poor.
The Impact of Iodine Deficiency:
- Goitre (swollen thyroid)
- Hypothyroidism
- Mental and physical developmental delays in children (e.g., cretinism, low IQ)
- Speech and hearing impairments
- Miscarriages and stillbirths
Children in iodine deficient regions have been shown to score, on average, 13.5 IQ points lower than their peers in iodine-sufficient areas. The good news? These issues are completely preventable simply by ensuring that people consume adequately iodised salt.
Thanks to strong public health efforts, 92% of Indians now consume iodised salt, and it’s estimated that this has saved 4 billion IQ points across the population in just the last two decades.
Why Add Iron Too?
While iodisation has seen great success, iron deficiency and anaemia remain major concerns especially for women and children. Iron deficiency can lead to:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Impaired cognitive development
- Increased risk of infections
- Complications during pregnancy
By combining iron with iodine in salt, Double Fortified Salt offers a smart, cost-effective way to address both deficiencies at once.
Double Fortified Salt represents a major step forward in public health nutrition. It’s:
- Safe
- Scientifically validated
- Affordable
- Widely accepted by consumers
Food fortification doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, the most impactful solutions are the simplest.
It’s time to recognize salt not just as a seasoning but as a life saving intervention.
