Re-emergence of iodine deficiency

Evidence of the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Tasmania in the 1990s... 

To substantiate the results of this survey a larger population-based urinary iodine survey was conducted on a representative sample of school-aged children in Tasmania in 1998-1999, with retesting in 2000-2001. The results of these surveys (Hynes etal., 2004) indicated the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Tasmanian schoolchildren. 

It should be noted that the voluntary program of bread fortification in Tasmania was introduced as an interim measure only. As a result of the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in Austrafia (Gunton et al., 1999 Li et al., 2001, McDonnell et al., 2003, Hynes et al., 2004) and in New Zealand (Thomson et al., 2001, Skeaff et al., 2002, 2003) mandatory fortification of bread with iodized salt is presently being considered by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (2007). 

Standards Code is not a simple process it requires the preparation of three assessment reports and two rounds of public consultation by Food Standard Australia New Zealand. The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council is then notified of the final report, which they can choose to adopt, amend, reject, or may request for a review. Now that the new food standard has been accepted, the regulation comes into effect after a set transition period (usually 12 months). Mandatory iodine fortification will be in place more than 10 years after the re-emergence of iodine deficiency in New Zealand was identified. 

The re-emergence of deficiency coincided with a decline in iodine levels in milk at a time when milk was the major dietary sonrce of iodine for the popnlation. 

Concerns were raised in the mid-1990s that the Tasmanian population may no longer be iodine sufficient. This was based on anecdotal reports that iodophor use in the dairy industry had continued to wane, anecdotal clinical evidence of an increase in the prevalence of goiter and thyroid disease (Claxton et ai, 2000), and reports that iodine deficiency had re-emerged in other parts of Australia and in other countries (Dunn, 1998 Hollowell et ai, 1998 Gunton et al., 1999 Li et al., 2001). 

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