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India's Anemia Crisis: Salt Fortification Flawed?
5 Nov
Summary
- Over half of Indian women and two-thirds of children are anemic.
- Double-fortified salt is proposed but may not be effective.
- High salt intake contradicts public health goals.
India is grappling with a severe anemia crisis, as indicated by the NFHS-5 survey. More than half of women and approximately two-thirds of young children suffer from this condition. A proposed solution, double-fortified salt (DFS), combines iodine and iron, capitalizing on widespread salt consumption.
However, the efficacy of DFS is debated. While convenient, critics argue it doesn't guarantee effective iron delivery. India's average daily salt intake significantly exceeds the WHO's recommended five grams. This high consumption is linked to hypertension and conflicts with national efforts to reduce salt intake by 30% as part of the non-communicable disease action plan.
