National Surveys indicate that Health disorders in Kerala are due to
Iodine Deficiency
Iodine Deficiency Disorder [IDD] has been described as the world’s single-most significant cause of “preventable” brain damage and mental retardation. Symptoms of iodine deficiency include goiter, nodules within goiter, pregnency related problems such as miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery and congenital abnormalities in babies. Children of mothers with severe iodine deficiency during pregnency can have mental retardation, problems with growth, hearing and speech, cretinism[1], increased head circumference, horse cry, low intelligence etc. Iodine deficiency leads to severe retardation of growth and maturation of almost all organ systems[2].
A national survey in India shows that the percentage of population consuming salt with less than recommended iodine was very high in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, respectively[3]. Urinary Iodine Excretion level [UIE] gave unmistakable evidence that there is indeed iodine deficiency.
An easy way to control iodine deficiency disorder is by use of iodized salt. To overcome the problem, Government of India took a decision to adopt ‘universal iodization of salt’ in the country. It was made mandatory that only iodized salt should be sold for food purpose. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act [PFA], 1954 was amended and the sale of non-iodated salt was banned under PFA to ensure the use of iodated salt for human consumption for the entire country.
By 1996, almost all state governments, except Kerala, had issued ban notification on sale of non-iodized salt for food purpose. Kerala government could not issue such notification because of resistance from activists. Here is an example of their reaction against the ban. “Banning non-iodized salt is a WHO-sponsored multinational scientific conspiracy to poison us. There are other health problems like anemia and malaria which affect our country more than goiter.”
[1] Cretinism is a term used to describe the state of physical and mental retardation resulting from untreated congenital hypothyroidism usually due to iodine deficiency since birth.
[3] Monitoring of Quality of Iodised Salt to Prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Increase Production of Iodised Salt through Networking of Medical Colleges in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry States of India, 2002. Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029.
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