"Iodized salt is efficient in preventing iodine deficiencies and will not induce thyroid cancer," China's Ministry of Health announced Nov. 2 in Sina English. The Ministry cited ICCIDD as affirming its conclusion.

Rumors have recently spread online stating that increasing cases of thyroid cancer have been caused by the consumption of iodized salt.

Health experts said unhealthy lifestyles and improved medical techniques that diagnose thyroid cancer at an earlier stage have led to increasing numbers of thyroid cancer cases in China.