Iodine Global Network (IGN)

Iodine in the global news

13. October 2014

No link between iodized salt and thyroid cancer

Young and middled-aged women in China are the most vulnerable to papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common form of thyroid cancer. Three out of every four patients are female, according to a national academic conference on thyroid cancer in Tianjin...

08. October 2014

Consumption of iodized salt ensures brighter and sharper minds

An awareness seminar for school-children on the use of iodized salt for better physical and mental health was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The seminar was organized by the Network for Consumer Protection with the support of UNICEF, and it was attended by...

18. September 2014

Iodine deficiency survey kicks off in Punjab, Northern India

The authorities of Ludhiana district in Punjab are initiating a survey to measure iodine levels in 2,700 school children aged between 6 and 12 years from over 30 district areas. A school will be identified to represent each area: 74 children from that...

13. September 2014

‘Tour de Thyroid’ (15–30 September)

On Monday 15 September, a Croatian charity team Bioleptir Hrvatska (Butterfly Croatia) will set out on a cross-European bicycle tour to raise awareness of thyroid disorders and iodine deficiency. The tour will cover 2100 km between Osijek in Croatia and...

04. September 2014

Iodine deficiency is endangering millions of children in Mozambique

Representative of UNICEF in Maputo, Koen Vanormelingen, has stressed the need for the Mozambican government to deal with iodine deficiency in children. Speaking at a meeting of the National Salt Iodation Programme on 1 September, Vanormelingen said that...

29. August 2014

UNICEF report praises USI success in Nigeria

Nigeria, with a population of over 140 million and enormous natural resources, has achieved remarkable success in its Universal Salt Iodization (USI) programme. The USI programme took-off effectively in Nigeria in 1993, at a time when only 40% of salt...

14. August 2014

Salt iodization programs have helped improve growth and reduce mortality across Africa

Salt iodization programs in approximately 150 countries have markedly improved the global iodine nutritional status over the past decade. This is reflected in the decrease in the number of iodine-deficient countries worldwide from 54 in 2003 to 47 in ...

14. August 2014

Nigeria scales up fight against circulation of non-iodized salt

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has pledged further commitment to scale up the fight against circulation of non-iodized salt in Nigeria. Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii said this in Abuja while...

19. July 2014

Goiter is still common in the Philippines

In the Philippines, one of the most common diseases that affect the thyroid gland is goiter. “Goiter is prevalent in the Philippines,” says Dr. Gabriel Jasul, Jr., director of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism. “It is common and...

14. July 2014

Solar salt from small-scale producers to improve nutrition in Guinea

Small-scale farmers in Guinea are using a new method for extracting naturally-iodized salt without damaging the environment. The method uses the combined power of the sun and wind to crystallize brine on black canvas. Despite its advantages,...

25. June 2014

Bahrain announces "zero iodine deficiency" status

Bahrain’s Health Minister Sadiq bin Abdul-Kareem Al-Shehabi expressed his delight at the Kingdom’s accomplishment of "zero iodine deficiency" status, thus becoming the first country in the eastern Mediterranean region and the Middle East declared free...

25. June 2014

Why should U.S. pregnant moms take iodine supplements?

If you're either expecting a little one or have a new baby at home, you may want to reconsider trading table salt for alternatives like sea salt. A new policy statement from The American Academy of Pediatrics finds that many women, including up to 1/...

25. June 2014

Iodine deficiency: no thing of the past for Europeans

Some 30% of the world's population, or two billion people, are deficient in iodine. Although the most severe cases occur in developing countries, Europeans are affected too, with about half of continental Europe being mildly iodine deficient. ...

17. June 2014

Low-cost iodized salt launched in Tamil Nadu, India

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa launched three varieties of low-cost salt: double-fortified salt, low-sodium salt, and refined free flow iodized salt. 'Amma Salt', an initiative of the Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation, will now be available in the...

11. June 2014

'Salt March' reduces iodine deficiency among schoolchildren in Kashmir

As Kashmir moves from rock salt of Pakistan to iodized salt, there is a remarkable reduction in iodine deficiency among schoolchildren of the Valley. A recent study by the endocrinology department of the Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences...

11. June 2014

Pakistan launches an awareness campaign on iodine deficiency

Universal iodisation of salt is the most inexpensive way of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. An awareness campaign on iodine deficiency disorders has been launched in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in recognition of the importance of iodized...

11. June 2014

Bangladesh will not import salt this year to ensure fair prices of domestic iodized salt

The government of Bangladesh will not allow any import of salt this year to ensure fair prices of salt produced by local farmers, said the Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu. “We are self sufficient in producing salt and capable to meet the ...

11. June 2014

Philippines reactivate a regional task force to manage the national salt iodization program

National Nutrition Council (NNC) has reactivated the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) in an effort to manage and coordinate the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP) in Central Luzon. “RBATF shall lead the advocacy towards the full and...

28. May 2014

Improve your thyroid health during International Thyroid Awareness Week 2014

25–31 May 2014 is the sixth International Thyroid Awareness Week. The British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) is partnering with its international counterparts to raise awareness of thyroid disorders worldwide.

27. May 2014

A new review by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends iodine supplementation for U.S. pregnant and lactating women

Many women of reproductive age in the United States are marginally iodine deficient, perhaps because the salt in processed foods is not iodized.

25 pages