About
What it is and where it shows up.
Iodised salt is common table salt (sodium chloride) fortified with potassium iodide or cuprous iodide to provide dietary iodine, an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone synthesis. It is used globally as the primary public-health vehicle to prevent iodine deficiency disorders such as goitre, hypothyroidism, and cretinism.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
Iodised salt is considered safe for the general population when consumed within recommended dietary iodine intake levels (150 µg/day for adults per WHO and EFSA). Excess iodine intake can impair thyroid function and may trigger or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions in susceptible individuals; EFSA sets a Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 600 µg/day for adults. The sodium component of salt independently elevates risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease, and WHO recommends limiting total salt intake to less than 5 g/day.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Sodium chloride (common salt) is explicitly excluded from the EU positive list of food additives under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Iodization of salt is regulated at member-state level with divergent national standards; iodine addition ranges from 10 to 75 mg iodine per kg salt across EU countries. EFSA (NDA Panel, 2014) set an Adequate Intake (AI) of 150 µg iodine/day for adults and a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 600 µg/day for adults including pregnant and lactating women. No single harmonized EU-wide iodized salt regulation exists.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Mandatory iodization of common white salt for direct human consumption is required under FSS (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Sub-regulation 2.3.12. Traditional salts (rock salt, black salt, Himalayan pink salt) are explicitly exempt from mandatory iodization per FSSAI 2019 clarification. Food Safety and Standards (Food Fortification) Regulations, 2018 additionally govern Double Fortified Salt (DFS) combining iodine and iron.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Cuprous iodide and potassium iodide are affirmed GRAS and permitted in table salt at a maximum concentration of 0.01% (21 CFR). Voluntary iodization of table salt was established in 1924 to address endemic goitre. Labels must indicate 'iodized' if iodine is added; uniodized salt must state 'This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient.' The Daily Value reference for iodine is 150 µg.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Thyroid Disease — Excess iodine from iodised salt can precipitate iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis or worsen autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease; individuals with pre-existing thyroid disorders should seek medical guidance on appropriate iodine intake.
Hypertension — While iodine itself is safe, the sodium content of iodised salt is a well-established driver of elevated blood pressure; WHO recommends restricting total salt intake to under 5 g/day for the general population and lower amounts for hypertensive individuals.
Kidney Disease — Impaired renal function reduces the capacity to excrete excess sodium and iodine, compounding cardiovascular and thyroid risks from high salt consumption; medical supervision of both sodium and iodine intake is advised.
Heart Disease — High dietary sodium from salt promotes fluid retention and increased cardiovascular load; patients with heart disease should adhere to clinician-prescribed sodium restrictions regardless of whether the salt is iodised.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1PubMed. Modern challenges of iodine nutrition: vegan and vegetarian diets, 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2PubMed. Vast gap in iodization from production to plate – Hurdles in achieving Universal Salt Iodization in India, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FSSAI. FSSAI notification clarifying mandatory iodisation of common salt under FSS (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, Sub-regulation 2.3.12, 2019. fssai.gov.in
- 4FDA. FDA regulations regarding iodine addition to foods and labeling of foods containing added iodine, 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for iodine, 2014. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations