TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, (PIA) — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) region 2 has warned the public not to buy salts that are sold along highways.
Rhodora Maestre, nutrition program coordinator said that in a surprise monitoring of the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force in the salt manufacturing in Ilocos Norte, they found out that those sold along the highways are inadequately iodized.
Based on tests results, the products only contain 0.5ppm of iodine content which is very far from the prescribed 30ppm standard iodine needed for an adequately iodized salt.
“Insufficiency of iodine in salt products can pose health risk which may result to Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD),” Maestre said.
In the 90’s, Cagayan Valley Region was found to one among regions with the highest prevalence rate of Iodine Deficiency Disorder and was eradicated after a banned on uniodized salt in the market was imposed alongside establishment of salt check points in the entry and exit points of the region.
Maestre reported that factory workers in the monitored areas do not likewise observe proper hygiene and sanitary practices which may contaminate their products.
Maestre urged local officials not to allow import of salt from factories that are not accredited or registered with government. (ALM/OTB/PIA-2 Cagayan)
