More than 153 million Indians suffer iodine deficiency disorders, yet India's third-largest salt producing state, Tamil Nadu has a high goiter incidence, 6.3% according to a report in Express Buzz in Madurai.

“'It is very difficult to regulate the consumption and sale of salt, as not only is the industry unlicensed, over 70 per cent of salt-manufacturers in TN fall under the unorganised sector,' said a senior official at the Salt Commissionerate. As such, neither does the Commissionerate have power to penalise nor is it mandatory for the manufacturers to obtain licence.

"With the State producing about two million tonnes of salt a year and catering to all the Southern states, non-iodised salt is available in plenty. Sometimes, it is sold in the open market cheaper than the iodised salt or marketed as iodised when it is actually not."