Use of adequately-iodized salt has reached 47.3% of rural households according to a new study released by ICCIDD, the Micronutrient Initiative and the Salt Commissioner of India, UpVery.com reported April 25. The AC Nielsen survey of eight Indian states updates the last national survey, 2005-2006. The earlier survey found just 27% of rural households used iodized salt. Dr. CS Pandav, ICCIDD regional coordinator, was part of the team of sponsors.

The key to the success, the report concludes is that slowly but steadily, the preference for salt purchase among the vast rural populations of the Central Indian States is shifting to packaged crystalline salt instead of loose coarse salt. This trend in consumer preference seems the underlying reason why in India the access to iodized salt is improving.

The media statement upon release offers these details:

"Focussing on the status of salt iodization in India, the study was conducted in rural households across eight states in India i.e. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The study shows that (i) use of adequately iodized salt in these 8 states combined has increased to 47.3% of the rural households compared with 27% in last national level study conducted by Government of India (GoI) in 2005-06 (NFHS 3) (ii) States like Uttarakhand, Orissa, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh evidenced a two fold increase in the use of adequately iodized salt while states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have shown relatively lower progress and (iii) availability of iodine content in the edible salt improved as the salt is crushed, washed and refined."