SALT IODINE MONITORING IN THE ARMED FORCES.

Iodine deficiency is the most commonly implicated nutritional factor responsible for preventable mental deficiency in India and the world. The Government of India aims to control this through the supply of Iodised salt as the primary intervention strategy. Monitoring of the salt supplied, therefore becomes essential to ensure quality control. This study undertaken to assess the status of Iodised salt in the Armed Forces in the Pune-Kirkee complex found a great variation in the iodine content ranging from 10.6 ppm to 150.1 ppm. High levels of Iodine are potentially harmful. This calls for stringent quality assurance and monitoring as a cost effective long term measure in the Armed Forces.