Iodine levels in brands of salt on the markets of Accra, Ghana.

Introduction: The analysis sought to verify the presence or otherwise and the concentration levels of iodine in the claimed iodated salts on the Ghanaian market.

Methods: Eleven (11) most patronized brands of salts, including both local and foreign brands and the raw-pellet salt (crystallized directly from sea water), were obtained from popular shops and markets in Accra. These were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively by titrimetry, involving the iodate-iodide reaction in acid medium that generates molecular iodine (IO3 - + I- + 6H+ → I2 + 3H2 O).

Results: The iodine content (in ppm) at retail, recorded for the samples are as follows: Sample A (25.4), B (51.8), C (52.9), D (45.5), E (25.4), F (75.1), G (28.6), H (0), I (13.7), J (34.9) and K (16.9). No iodine was observed in the raw-pellet salt (sample H) crystallized directly from sea water, in contrast to the long-held belief that it contains natural iodine. Furthermore, all samples analyzed did not meet the concentration levels indicated on their labels and did not meet the Ghana Standard Authority's standard.

Conclusion: Only samples B and C were close to the Ghana Standard Authority's specification. The Ghana Standard Authority's standard of 100ppm at production and 50ppm at retail may be too high or, probably, the salt iodination companies are not adhering to the rules. The authors therefore recommend that the regulatory authorities (The Food and Drugs Authority and The Ghana Standard Authority) regularize their regulatory activities and educate the public appropriately.

Funding: The study was self-funded by the researchers/authors.