Mati ul Haq, Sher Mohammad Khan, Ayub Khan, Sayyed Sakhawat Shah, Salarzai.
Quality and use of Iodized Salt in Peshawar Pakistan.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;17(1):26-30.

Objective: To show that how many producers supply iodized salt according to the recommendations of UNICEF/WHO and P&DD and to know the response of people towards iodized salt. Subjects: Salt samples were collected from the local market and residents of the area were interviewed randomly. Setting: Thyroid Laboratory, Institute of Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. Methods: Samples of all available brands were collected from the market and were analyzed by the standard iodometric method in Thyroid Laboratory of the Institute. To know response of the people towards iodized salt, local residents were interviewed randomly. Results: Only two (9.5%) of total 21 manufacturers supply iodized salt according to the recommendations of UNICEF/WHO and P&DD. 19 (90.5%) manufacturers supply saltwith low or high level of iodine. Analysis of another batch of salts collected from the market shows that none of the producers supply iodized salt with a uniform quantity of iodine. All of them supply salts in plastic bags according to the recommendations. Only 13 (61.9%) companies supply iodized salts in the recommended pack size. Out of 1244 families, 877 (70.5%) do not use iodized salt. Main reason, according to the people, for not using iodized salt is misconception about its effect on reproduction system. Conclusion: Most of iodized salts available in the market are not according to the recommendations of UNICEF/WHO and Planning and Development Department (P&DD) criteria. Most of the people are not aware of the importance of iodized salt or they are misguided.

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