Assessment of iodine content in dietary salt at market stall level in the city of Salta amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the availability and accessibility of iodized salt in the city of Salta at retail market level prior to and in the new context. To conduct this research, a multistage, descriptive and comparative study was carried out with a statistically representative and systematic sample of the 321 neighbourhoods of the city of Salta. The purchase of food salt containers was made in said neighbourhoods in February/2020, January/2021, and April/2022, the two last ones under prevention protocols. Iodine was determined by sodium thiosulfate titration, under international reference values indicating that the presence of “>95 % of food grade salt must be iodized within the range established by legislation, at the production level and in the market.” The results showed that regional salts are the ones with the highest supply in the three monitoring. All the labeling showed the legend “Salt enriched with iodine according to Law 17259/69” as well as its regulatory records with great variability in the expiration date. In 2020, 2021 and 2022 the level of iodine varied in both national and regional salts, the suitable salts were 59.3 %, 29.2 % (p=0.0003234) and 41.9 % respectively. Without iodine: 5.5 %, 4.2 % and 3.2 %. In 2021 all the neighbourhoods offered unsuitable salts. One regional brand takes up the majority of the retail market. In the COVID-19 health context, the iodine content in salt for human consumption decreased significantly compared to the pre-pandemic situation, a warning indicator because of the effects on the health of the population and future generations.