CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The National Nutrition Council (NNC) here has blamed “illegal salt” for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in Central Luzon, resulting in such cases as low intelligence, irreversible mental retardation, stunted growth or crossed eyes among children in the region.
In a press briefing here the other day, NNC regional head Ma. Vicenta Magpantay said Central Luzon has “low compliance with iodized salt requirements” as mandated by law.
She cited latest government statistics indicating that in Central Luzon, 22.3 percent of children aged from zero to five and another 23.6 percent of those from six to 10 years old are physically “stunted”.
Magpantay blamed “smuggling” of non-iodized salt into Central Luzon as among the causes of IDD, as she noted that the regional has many “entry points” for such salt.
Non-iodized salt, she noted, was made a virtual contraband by Republic Act 8172 or “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide.”
She noted that the law requires “all producers, manufacturers of food-grade salt to iodize the salt that they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute.”
It also required local government units “to check and monitor the quality of food-grade salt being sold in their market in order to ascertain that such salt is properly iodized,” she noted.
However, Magpantay noted that IDD is only one of the five major nutrition concerns of the NNC in Central Luzon. The others include protein energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency, and over-nutrition.
Apart from statistics on physically stunted children, Magpantay also cited figures indicating that in Central Luzon, 14.5 percent of kids aged from zero to five are underweight and 7.1 percent are considered “thin”. In the six to 10-years-old bracket, 24.9 percent were underweight.
Magpantay explained that underweight children have weight lower than that of normal children of the same age and sex, while those stunted have heights lower than average. Those classified as “thin” are those whose weight in below the average of children of the same height and sex.
She said that in the case of IDD, affected mothers are also prone to miscarriages, still births and spontaneous abortions.
Magpantay said the NNC has appealed to local government officials to ensure the implementation of RA 8172.
While the law itself has no provisions for penalties for violators, it cites Republic Act 3720 or the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which covers violators of the salt iodization law, providing for a fine of no more than P100,000 and, in the case of businessmen, the revocation of their business permit.
However, Magpantay said that lack of iodized salt is only partly to blame for nutrition problems in Central Luzon. She said the “immediate causes” of malnutrition in the region, as in other parts of the country, include inadequate food intake and diseases like diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, and measles.
In a press briefing here the other day, NNC regional head Ma. Vicenta Magpantay said Central Luzon has “low compliance with iodized salt requirements” as mandated by law.
She cited latest government statistics indicating that in Central Luzon, 22.3 percent of children aged from zero to five and another 23.6 percent of those from six to 10 years old are physically “stunted”.
Magpantay blamed “smuggling” of non-iodized salt into Central Luzon as among the causes of IDD, as she noted that the regional has many “entry points” for such salt.
Non-iodized salt, she noted, was made a virtual contraband by Republic Act 8172 or “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide.”
She noted that the law requires “all producers, manufacturers of food-grade salt to iodize the salt that they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute.”
It also required local government units “to check and monitor the quality of food-grade salt being sold in their market in order to ascertain that such salt is properly iodized,” she noted.
However, Magpantay noted that IDD is only one of the five major nutrition concerns of the NNC in Central Luzon. The others include protein energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency, and over-nutrition.
Apart from statistics on physically stunted children, Magpantay also cited figures indicating that in Central Luzon, 14.5 percent of kids aged from zero to five are underweight and 7.1 percent are considered “thin”. In the six to 10-years-old bracket, 24.9 percent were underweight.
Magpantay explained that underweight children have weight lower than that of normal children of the same age and sex, while those stunted have heights lower than average. Those classified as “thin” are those whose weight in below the average of children of the same height and sex.
She said that in the case of IDD, affected mothers are also prone to miscarriages, still births and spontaneous abortions.
Magpantay said the NNC has appealed to local government officials to ensure the implementation of RA 8172.
While the law itself has no provisions for penalties for violators, it cites Republic Act 3720 or the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which covers violators of the salt iodization law, providing for a fine of no more than P100,000 and, in the case of businessmen, the revocation of their business permit.
However, Magpantay said that lack of iodized salt is only partly to blame for nutrition problems in Central Luzon. She said the “immediate causes” of malnutrition in the region, as in other parts of the country, include inadequate food intake and diseases like diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, and measles.
