Salt is a daily essential in almost every Indian kitchen, but iodised salt offers more than taste. As a key source of iodine, it plays an important role in preventing iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and supporting brain health, healthy pregnancies, thyroid function and overall well-being.
Under India’s Universal Salt Iodisation programme, salt became the preferred medium for iodine delivery because of its widespread household use. The India Iodine Survey 2018-19 found that 76.3 per cent of households consumed adequately iodised salt containing at least 15 parts per million (ppm) of iodine. However, only 22.4 per cent had a correct understanding of its benefits, highlighting a significant consumer awareness gap.
Iodine requirements vary across age groups, ranging from 90-100 micrograms daily for children aged one to 12 years and around 140 micrograms for adolescents and adults, to 220-280 micrograms for pregnant and lactating women.
Adequate iodine is particularly important during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, when thyroid hormones support brain cell formation and nerve development.
Tata Salt, launched in 1983 as India’s first national branded iodised salt, has helped make iodised salt accessible across Indian households. The brand’s journey reflects how an everyday consumer choice can also support India’s wider nutritional and public health goals.
