Israel is planning to mandatory add iodine to household salt following studies revealing ongoing deficiency issues, especially among children and pregnant women, with officials emphasising the move as a crucial public health measure.
Israel is moving towards mandatory iodine fortification of household table salt after health officials said testing found persistent, and in some groups severe, deficiency across the population. The Health Ministry said the proposal is intended to address a long-running public health problem that has shown little sign of improvement in recent years, particularly among children and pregnant women.
According to ministry data, around 60% of children tested and 85% of pregnant women were deficient in iodine, a nutrient essential for thyroid hormone production, growth and brain development. Research cited by the ministry found a similar pattern in a 2016 survey and in later National Biomonitoring Programme results from 2020 and 2021, suggesting the shortfall has remained largely unchanged. Officials said the issue may be linked in part to Israel’s reliance on desalinated water, which contains very little iodine, as well as a diet that is not especially rich in natural iodine sources.
Under the draft rules, iodine would be added to table salt sold in household packages, which the ministry said accounts for most salt bought for domestic use. Salt used by food manufacturers, coarse salt and speciality salts would be excluded. The proposed level, 30 milligrams of iodine per kilogram of salt, is expected to add about 45 micrograms to a person’s daily intake, or roughly 30% of the reference amount. The ministry described that figure as cautious and said it would monitor iodine levels after the change takes effect, with room to adjust the dose if needed.
Health officials emphasised that the plan is not a call to eat more salt. They said only a small share of sodium intake comes from salt added at home, while most comes from processed food, so the long-standing advice to limit overall salt consumption remains unchanged. The World Health Organisation recommends salt iodisation as a safe and effective way to prevent iodine deficiency, and the ministry said more than 120 countries already require it. It also warned that iodine can be lost if salt is stored in damp conditions or unsuitable packaging.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
