TY - JOUR
T1 - Risks of excess iodine intake in Ghana: current situation, challenges, and lessons for the future
AU - Oldewage-Theron, Wilna
AU - Oldewage-Theron, Wilna
AU - Aryeetey, Richmond
PY - 2018/11/29
Y1 - 2018/11/29
N2 - In Ghana, iodine deficiency was first reported in 1994 among 33% of the population. A nationwide Universal Salt
Iodization (USI) program plus other complementary interventions were subsequently implemented as a response.
Our paper reviews the current risks of excess iodine status in Ghana and identifies policy and research gaps. A
mixedmethods review of 12 policies and institutional reports and 13 peer-reviewed articles was complemented with
consultations with 23 key informants (salt producers and distributors, food processors, regulatory agency officials,
and healthcare providers) purposively sampled between May and August 2017. The findings show a strong policy
environment indicated by regulations on food and salt fortification (Act 851), including the USI regulation.However,
currently, only a third of Ghanaian households use adequately iodized salt. Recent evidence shows that voluntarily
fortified processed foods (including condiments) supply a considerable amount of iodine to the
AB - In Ghana, iodine deficiency was first reported in 1994 among 33% of the population. A nationwide Universal Salt
Iodization (USI) program plus other complementary interventions were subsequently implemented as a response.
Our paper reviews the current risks of excess iodine status in Ghana and identifies policy and research gaps. A
mixedmethods review of 12 policies and institutional reports and 13 peer-reviewed articles was complemented with
consultations with 23 key informants (salt producers and distributors, food processors, regulatory agency officials,
and healthcare providers) purposively sampled between May and August 2017. The findings show a strong policy
environment indicated by regulations on food and salt fortification (Act 851), including the USI regulation.However,
currently, only a third of Ghanaian households use adequately iodized salt. Recent evidence shows that voluntarily
fortified processed foods (including condiments) supply a considerable amount of iodine to the
U2 - 10.1111/nyas.13988.
DO - 10.1111/nyas.13988.
M3 - Article
SP - 22
JO - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
JF - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
SN - 0077-8923
ER -