Author(s): Renu Verma, Sadhna Singh and Alka Yadav

Abstract:
Salt is the most popular seasoning and a source of dietary mineral essential for life. Iodine is an essential trace element required for human growth and development and necessary for production of thyroid hormones. In our country the soil is deficient in iodine therefore, its supplements are required. A diet deficient in iodine is associated with a wide spectrum of illness collectively known as iodine deficiency disorders and goiter is major health consequences of iodine deficiency. Two districts of Uttar Pradesh viz. Gonda and Barabanki were selected randomly through stratified random sampling. 100 households were selected from each block and surveyed through questionnaire method about their practices regarding consumption, storage, purchasing and usage of salt. Glass containers were most commonly (31.5%) used for storage of salt in both districts. Salt sample collected from households were found to have 10.6 to 31.7 ppm iodine. The mean iodine content was found to be higher (25.75 ppm) in salt stored in glass containers and least (13.96 ppm) in the salt stored in gunny bags. The mean iodine content was found to be higher in salt samples collected from respondents who were educated up to intermediate level (27.0 ppm). It was found that 68.5% of studied population was consuming iodized salt. A part of iodine was lost due to careless handling, faulty storage and improper usages practices of salt. Thus there is a need to educate people proper methods of salt consumption, storage and usages.