‘Bantay Asin’ task force readies for salt monitoring in Cagayan de Oro City

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) Northern Mindanao has set schedule for salt monitoring in Cagayan de Oro City’s (CDO) manufacturing areas, sea port and major public markets this year.

This, after results of previous monitoring in the five provinces of Northern Mindanao showed that a number of retails stores are still selling non-iodized salt or inadequately iodized salt. During the first semester meeting of RBATF, Liwayway S. Llorico, Nutrition Officer II of National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 10, shared for iodized salt to be adequate for household consumption, iodine content must not be less than 15 parts per million (ppm).

Out of the 100 stores they have checked in 2018 and 2019, 21 have not passed the WYD Iodine Checker – a tool that verifies the quality of iodine content in salt.

Lanao del Norte had the highest non-compliance with only eight stores out of 20 who passed the salt monitoring done by the task force. Misamis Occidental meanwhile had eight stores out of 10 who passed, Camiguin with 44 stores passed out of 50 who passed and Bukidnon with 19 out of 20 who passed.

The lowest iodine content checked by the group is from Lala, Lanao del Norte with -0.6 iodine ppm with supplier from Lianghong, RTM and still some zero iodine ppm content from Dipolog manufacturers and some unknown. Llorico said there is a need to also check manufacturing establishments.

They have to at least provide higher iodine ppm content preferably 30-70 ppm or more at their level so that when it is stored and delivered to the stores, iodine still remains in the salt. According to her, iodine in salt easily diminishes especially due to poor handling and storage. She said, there is proper storage and handling of iodized salt to maintain its adequacy. Iodine in salt diminishes when it is exposed to air or heat, she said.

Results of the monitoring were made available to respective governors of the province so that they will craft next steps to eradicate non-iodized salt in their markets, said Llorico.

Meanwhile, NNC 10 and the task force have recommended the local government units to create their own Provincial Bantay Asin Task Force and craft ordinances to strengthen monitoring of salt in their area. Republic Act 8172, “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)” declares to promote the nutritional fortification of food to combat micronutrient as a priority health program for the nation. (J Mor)

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