The Health Ministry advanced new regulations on Tuesday that would require table salt sold for household use to be enriched with iodine, after findings showed widespread iodine deficiency among Israel’s population.
According to ministry data, about 60% of children and 85% of pregnant women tested had an iodine deficiency.
The requirement is expected to apply to table salt sold in packages for household use, which the Health Ministry says accounts for about 85% to 90% of household salt purchases in Israel. Salt used by the food industry, coarse salt, and specialty salts would not be subject to the enrichment requirement.
Under the plan, salt would be enriched with 30 milligrams of iodine per kilogram. The ministry estimates that this would add about 45 micrograms of iodine to a person’s daily diet, equivalent to about 30% of the daily reference intake.
The ministry described the dosage as “conservative” and said it would monitor iodine levels in the population after the measure is implemented. The enrichment level could then be adjusted if necessary.
Iodine deficiency in Israel has persisted for years
The decision to advance the regulations follows years of data showing persistent iodine deficiency in Israel.
A 2016 survey of more than 1,000 school-age children and about 1,000 pregnant women from across Israel’s regions and population groups found that about 60% of the children and 85% of the pregnant women suffered from iodine deficiency.
Data from the National Biomonitoring Program in 2020 and 2021 showed a similar picture, with no significant improvement, the ministry said.
One possible reason for the deficiency is linked to Israel’s drinking water. Israel’s location along the Mediterranean coast was once believed to provide some protection against iodine deficiency, but the Health Ministry said that assumption proved incorrect.
The Israeli diet does not rely heavily on iodine-rich foods from the sea, while a significant proportion of food and raw materials consumed in the country are imported.
The widespread use of desalinated water, which contains very low concentrations of iodine, may also contribute to the problem. The ministry cited desalination as one possible factor behind Israel’s low iodine intake.
Why iodine matters and the risks of deficiency
Iodine is an essential mineral used to produce thyroid hormones, which play a role in growth, development, and metabolism.
It is particularly important before and during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding, including for the proper development of the fetal and newborn brain. Natural sources of iodine include eggs, seaweed, dairy products, and sea fish.
Iodine deficiency can have a range of health consequences, including cognitive and neurological impairment, enlargement of the thyroid gland, known as goiter, and hypothyroidism.
The Health Ministry said iodine deficiency may also be associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, infant mortality, and congenital abnormalities.
Many countries already enrich salt with iodine. According to the Health Ministry, more than 120 countries have mandatory iodine regulations for salt, and it is considered an effective and safe way to prevent iodine deficiency.
The ministry estimates that the planned enrichment level would not cause iodine consumption to exceed the safe upper limit, even among people with relatively high intake.
Health Ministry stresses: Do not consume more salt
The Health Ministry stressed that adding iodine to salt is not a recommendation to increase salt consumption.
According to the ministry, only about 15% of daily salt consumption in Israel comes from salt added at home or during food preparation, while most salt intake comes from processed and industrially produced foods.
The recommendation to reduce overall salt consumption therefore remains unchanged. However, when using salt at home, the ministry recommends choosing iodine-enriched salt instead of regular salt.
The ministry also noted that iodine can break down or be lost when salt is stored in humid conditions or in unsuitable packaging.
The regulations are therefore expected to include requirements for packaging and stability controls. Consumers are advised to store iodine-enriched salt in a sealed container in a dry place.