Potassium iodate levels in processed edible salts available in retail shops throughout Kenya, 2013

Abstract Objective Iodine-deficiency disorders, due to insufficiency of iodine in the diet, are a global public health problem. The Kenyan Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act stipulates that processed retail-available edible salts contain 50–84 mg of potassium iodate (KIO 3 ) per kilogram of salt. The present study determined the status of KIO 3 levels in commercial salts, for public health action. Design/Setting/Subjects As part of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2013, field workers collected salt samples from seven different local manufacturers/packers across eight regions of the country and sent them to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) for KIO 3 titration analysis. Results A total of 539 samples were collected and analysed at NPHL. The samples had a mean KIO 3 of 62 mg/kg. Thirty-three (6 %) samples had KIO 3 of <25 mg/kg; ninety-eight (18 %) had 25–49 mg/kg; 335 (62 %) had 50–84 mg/kg; and seventy-three (13 %) had KIO 3 of >84 mg/kg. Conclusions The study found that 62 % of salts sampled met the Kenyan standards, 24 % were below the required limits and 13 % were above the recommended range. Continuous monitoring of edible salts at the retail level is important to detect brands not adhering to standards and trace them for remedy. However, governmental efforts should be directed to the quality control and quality assurance of the salt-manufacturing industries.