Health Ministry advances regulations requiring iodine enrichment for table salt

The Israeli Health Ministry has advanced new regulations to mandate iodine enrichment for table salt sold for household use, aiming to combat widespread iodine deficiency. Data indicates that approximately 60% of children and 85% of pregnant women in Israel suffer from iodine deficiency, a condition linked to cognitive and neurological impairment, and increased risks during pregnancy. The enrichment level will be 30 milligrams of iodine per kilogram of salt, adding about 45 micrograms to a person's daily diet, which is roughly 30% of the daily reference intake. This measure, already adopted by over 120 countries, is considered a safe and effective public health strategy. The ministry emphasized that this is not a recommendation to increase salt consumption, but rather to choose iodine-enriched salt for home use, while continuing to reduce overall salt intake from processed foods.