"Hanoi, 1 December, 2021:
WHO and UNICEF call on the Government of Viet Nam and State agencies to implement the Government Decree 09/2016/ND-CP that mandates the fortification of salt, wheat flour and vegetable oil and the use of fortified salt and wheat flour by the food industry...
WHO and UNICEF note that the decree has not been implemented after more than five years since its adoption...
According to 2021 Iodine Global Network report, Viet Nam is amongst the group of 26 countries remaining in the world with iodine deficiency".
"Studies show that up to 47% of students do not know the importance of iodine and many families do not have the habit of using iodized salt daily. Even up to 90% of parents know about the importance of iodized salt but do not really care."(GAK!!)
“Food producers say that adding (the gov't mandated!) iodine increased their production cost, disrupted production lines, and even change the taste, colour and expiration date of their products”
"In Vietnam, for example, prioritization of the national iodization program was downgraded, mandatory legislation was revoked, and central monitoring activities were reduced. Although mandatory salt iodization was reinstated in 2016, there has been little enforcement(read: no enforcement?) and Vietnam is currently designated an iodine-deficient country. In general, internal monitoring of quality assurance by salt producers in conjunction with external monitoring by government is needed."
(Link, US National Center for Biotechnology Information)
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It would do well for us to remember, and to remind local people, that using nước mắm, or salt harvested from dehydrated sea water, or non-iodized food flavourings, etc. (which do not contain sufficient amounts of iodine), in lieu of using iodized table salt can be detrimental not only to that person's health but to that of their family as well.
Further reading for those so inclined, here. (Link, Google search)
The salt we now use (on my insistence) states (claims?):
NaCL 97% (
I ốt 20-40 mg/1kg
Tạp Chất Không Tan ≤ 0.3%
