Carrefour has salt prohibited by Anvisa due to failure in the iodine content

According to the decision published in the Federal Official Gazette (DOU)this Wednesday (05), the salt of brand carrefour he was prohibited to be sold, distributed, manufactured and used by National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

According to Final Tax Analysis Reportissued by Adolfo Lutz Institute, asks for the collection of the lot 22992 due to “unsatisfactory result for the iodine content being below the established limit”.

In a note, Carrefour reported that it performs regular analyzes on all products of its own brand. The salt, according to the company, was tested this year and the analyzed samples were within the limits established by Anvisa.

“We also reinforce that we immediately request the removal of the product from batch 22992 in all stores where it is available and that we are in contact with the supplier to determine the fact”, said the hypermarket.

_{Carrefour brand salt (Photo: disclosure/Carrefour)}

The importance of iodine in salt

According to Ministry of Healthsince the 1950s is “mandatory iodization of all salt intended for human consumption.” Because during this time, about 20% of the Brazilian population had Iodine Deficiency Disorder (DDI). Because of this, universal salt iodization was adopted in order to reduce these high prevalences.

Iodine is an important micronutrient for humans. It is used in the synthesis of thyroid hormones – hormones produced by the thyroid, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).

These hormones act both in physical and neurological growth and in maintaining the normal flow of energy. In addition to being essential for the functioning of various organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, ovaries and others.

Deficiency of this micronutrient can cause deaf-muteness, congenital anomalies, goiter, and hypertrophy of the thyroid gland and cretinism in children – severe and irreversible mental retardation.

Malnutrition of iodine, according to the Ministry of Health, is also related to high rates of stillbirths and low birth weight children. In addition to problems in the gestational period, and increased risk of miscarriages and maternal mortality. Iodine deficiency also increases school repetition and dropout rates, and further reduces work ability.

Due to the importance of Iodine, the Program to Combat Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Brazil – Pró Iodo, which became a successful action in the fight against these disturbances. The program has even been praised by international organizations for its management and the result obtained in eliminating endemic goiter in Brazil.

Featured Photo: Carrefour Hypermarket. Playback/ André Freitas/G1.