12 October 2022, Cagayan de Oro City – One of the targets of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition is to eliminate micronutrient deficiencies. To ensure the eradication of Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in Northern Mindanao and achieve universal salt iodization, the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) X conducts semestral salt monitoring.
Last 7 October 2022, the task force visited the major salt suppliers in the region, namely: (1) Arvin International Marketing Inc. and (2) Artemis Salt Corp. The task force also collected and tested the salt samples onsite.
The RBATF X was composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office 10, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and National Nutrition Council (NNC) X and was accompanied by Mr. Noel Maandig, Cagayan de Oro City Sanitary Inspector.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Memorandum Circular No. 2013-042, entitled “Guidelines for Salt Manufacturers, Importers, Wholesalers, Repackers, and Distributors to Ensure Adequate Iodization of Iodized Salt, and for other purposes” states that all produced, imported, and sold salts must have an iodine content of 30-70 parts per million (ppm) to ensure that at least 15 ppm level of iodized salt reach the household level.
Per FDA specifications, the Arvin International Marketing Inc. and Artemis Salt Corp. salt samples are adequately iodized with an iodine content of 44.1 ppm and 186.2 ppm, respectively.
Aside from checking the iodine content of the salt produced by the local supplier, the RBATF X also monitored the production and storage area of the local distributors.
Proper storage and handling are crucial to ensure that households consume adequately iodized salt since iodine is a volatile compound. Thus, RBATF X recommended to the local distributors to include in their packaging e.g., sacks, the instructions on the proper storage or handling of iodized salt.
Further, local government units (LGUs) are advised to organize the Local Bantay Asin Task Force to strengthen the implementation, promotion, and monitoring of Republic Act No. 8172 or ASIN Law. The NNC X and RBATF X envisioned that through the unified efforts of the government, partners, and the community only adequate iodized salt will be sold in the market and consumed by the households in Northern Mindanao. (Development Management Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./09631090198)
