Vietnamese people lack iodine

The proposal was stated by the Ministry of Health in its submission to the Government on amending Decree 09/2016 on fortifying micronutrients in food. The dossier is currently being evaluated by the Ministry of Justice and is expected to be submitted to the Government for approval in November.

On November 5, Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Health, said that people nationwide, including coastal provinces in the Central Coast, are iodine deficient. According to the results of the 2019-2020 nutrition survey, only 27% of households using qualified iodized salt, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation is over 90%. Thus, the number of households using iodized salt (which meets disease prevention standards) is at the lower risk level and does not meet WHO recommendations.

“Iodine deficiency in Vietnam is so serious that it has public health implications,” Ms. Thuy said, adding that requiring food processing salt to be fortified with iodine is in accordance with WHO recommendations and International experience in preventing and combating micronutrient deficiency.

In fact, Vietnam has required salt for human consumption, including food salt, to be iodized salt since 1994, according to Ms. Thuy. Thanks to that, after 6 years of implementation, Vietnam eliminated iodine deficiency and achieved international standards in 2005.

Given that Vietnam has eliminated the shortage and people have maintained the habit of using iodized salt, in 2005, the Government issued Decree No. 163 to replace the previous Decree to switch to a management mechanism. new reason. In particular, the regulation on the use of iodized salt in food processing is no longer mandatory

According to the results of the assessment of 9 years of implementation of Decree No. 163/2005, less than 50% of provinces and cities achieved the coverage rate of iodized salt meeting disease prevention standards. In 2014-2015, the rate of goiter in children 8-10 years old increased to 8.3%.

Faced with this situation, in 2016, the Government issued Decree 09 on fortifying micronutrients in food. In particular, it is stipulated that “salt used for direct consumption and in food processing must be fortified with iodine”. To date, iodine consumption has increased, but is still below the level recommended by WHO.

Ms. Thuy said that when the Government assigned her to develop documents to amend Decree 09, the Ministry of Health received many comments and recommendations from businesses on how to amend Decree 09. Remove the requirement that salt in food processing must be fortified with iodine.

The reasons given by businesses are “the use of iodine-enhanced salt changes color, taste or negatively affects consumers’ health” or “causes difficulties for export because Vietnam requires but other countries do not”…

However, the Ministry of Health said that it has not received any scientific evidence related to the above reasons. At a meeting with businesses on October 30, leaders of the Ministry of Health expressed their willingness to coordinate with companies to research and clarify the effects of iodized salt on their products.

In case scientific evidence shows that the use of iodized salt in food changes color, taste or negatively affects the health of consumers, the Government will request to exclude these products. This is in the Decree.

Iodine is a micronutrient. The body uses this substance to synthesize thyroid hormones, which are essential for fetal and child development. Prolonged iodine deficiency can lead to neurological damage in fetuses and young children. In pregnant women, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth… Risk of goiter, damage to nerve and mental function in young people and adults lacking this substance.

Symptoms of iodine deficiency are fatigue and lethargy, so many people do not pay attention. According to the Ministry of Health, iodine deficiency causes 5-10% of cases of mental retardation and 20-30% of people with goiter. Many people lack energy, reduce their ability to work, and affect their health.

Statistics on the Global Iodine Network (IGN) database show that 126 countries have mandatory fortification regulations, of which 114 countries require the use of iodine-fortified salt in food processing.

In ASEAN, 8 countries apply a mandatory policy of adding iodine to table salt and salt used in food processing, including: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines; There are only two countries applying incentive policies: Singapore and Brunei.