BUTUAN CITY – In collaboration with Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), the Provincial Bantay Asin Task Force of Agusan del Norte together with the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) randomly collected salt samples from retailers, food establishments, and bakeries in the municipalities of Nasipit, Carmen, Kitcharao, Santiago and City of Cabadbaran on November 17-18, 2022.

This is to reinforce advocacy in battling the problems of micronutrient deficiencies, specifically, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).

Republic Act No. 8172 or “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and For Related Purposes,” also known as the ASIN Law, passed in 1995 requires the iodization of all food-grade salt for human and animal consumption.

This is the reason why RBATF and the Local Bantay Asin Task Force (PBATF) were organized to reinforce the regulation and monitoring of adequately iodized salts in Caraga region.

The monitoring activity is also a way to advocate salt iodization and the importance of having enough levels of iodine in the salt for business owners and managers through flyer distribution in stores and bakeries.

It also became an opportunity for nutrition workers to provide informative counselling and intensify the awareness of people on the benefits of using iodized salt.

Using the WYD iodine checker machine, collected salt samples were tested. Government and other stakeholders should continue to ramp up their collaborative efforts in understanding and finding ways to address the challenges, particularly, with the access and adequate use of iodized salt in every household.

Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinators and Barangay Nutrition Scholars assisted the monitoring activity.#DMO IICGPGumban/NOIILVPVargas