CII programme focuses on double fortification of salt

G Gragadurai, president, Thoothukudi Small Scale Salt Manufacturers Association, who attended the conclave, on Sunday, said once the manufactured salt is double fortified with iodine and iron, the finished product is slight yellowish in colour. Due to its colour, most consumers do not purchase it. “Also, its market price would go high. Currently, one kg packet of free flow iodized salt is priced at Rs. 15 and it could be increased by Rs 3 to 5 with the effect of double fortification.”

Meanwhile, ARAS Dhanabalan, secretary of the association, opined that double fortification was not necessary at this point in time. He said, “The fortification was introduced 25 years ago. Currently, with only 10 to 20 percent of people of the total population suffer from iron deficiency, this double fortification programme will not serve the purpose. This programme was aimed only to promote corporate companies, who would invest large sums of money for the high production cost, and not the small-scale manufacturers.”

According to WHO guidelines, nutritional anemia is a major public health problem in India and is primarily due to iron deficiency. Based on the National Family Health Survey, between 2005-2006; 2015-2016, people suffering from anemia deficiency in India decreased by only 3.5 per cent (that is from 56.5 per cent in 2005-2006 to 53 per cent in 2015–2016) for women aged between 15 and 49 years. However, during the same period, the deficiency increased in eight states, including New Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Some of these states that ranked among the highest on the state Human Development Index had failed to contain the deficiency.

Therefore, it was mandatory to maintain 30 ppm of iodine in salt at manufacturer level and 15 ppm of iodine at retailer level. The manufactured salt should possess a minimum of 95 percent of sodium chloride and moisture content needs to be less than six percent. It was advised that a person should consume 150 micrograms of iodine and pregnant women must take 200 micrograms every day.

 J Thanga Vignesh, district designated for food safety, Thoothukudi, said surprise checks were carried out in salt pans and also at retail outlets to check the iodine content. “Fines were slapped if the iodine levels was lesser than the prescribed levels,” he said.

During the ‘Salt Conclave’, Har Sahay Meena, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation Limited said Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet -2019 would be a great opportunity for investing in the salt industry.

He mentioned that the demand for Indian salt is always huge and there is enough land bank available for the growth of this sector. The government is focusing on skill training and ensure necessary preventive measures for safety of the employees, he said.

Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri, who was a part of the event, said that two electricity sub stations would be installed to resolve power issues in the district and added that necessary measures would be taken to develop salt industry.

KV Rama Moorthy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank stressed the need for an organised system in the industry to nurture it further and said the bank would extend support to develop the industry.

M G Venkatesh Mannar, Director, The India Nutrition Initiative, stressed upon the importance of production and consumption of iodised salt and explained about how it would help in eliminating deficiencies.

Further, Bharat C Raval, president, The Indian Salt Manufacturers’ Association spoke on the presence of salt industry across India and the opportunities; challenges it faces.

“Salt manufacturers of Tamil Nadu have to improve their quality of salt and be cost effective in order to survive in this competitive low margin industry,” said Michael Motha, CII TN Salt Conclave Chairman. He added that the central government is promoting the use of ‘Double Fortified Salt’ to eliminate iron deficiency in the country.