Exclusive use of iodated salt to be promoted by Government

A National Programme on liquidating disorders caused by iodine deficiency by 2010 will be implemented in Moldova in the near future. According to the Government’s Press service, the Programme stipulates the supply of quality salt for Moldova’s population, especially the promotion of import and exclusive trade with iodated salt, and the gradual expansion of iodated salt use in the food industry. According to doctors, the consequences of the iodine deficiency in the human organism have negative impact upon the population’s health, especially children. At the same time, housewives say that iodated salt is not good for pickles, so that the ordinary salt should stay on the market as well as the iodated one. Based on World Health Organisation data, over 90% of the consequences of iodine deficiency in the human body cannot be traced. According to Government statistics, about 15,000 children are annually born in Moldova with irreversible mental disorder, cause by iodine deficiency.