Potassium iodate levels in Kenyan retail salts
What it found
In salt samples from shops across Kenya, 62% met the national potassium iodate standard, 24% were below it and 13% were above it.
What they found
Average potassium iodate level
The samples had a mean potassium iodate level of 62 mg/kg.
Samples meeting the standard
62% of the salts sampled met the Kenyan standards.
Samples below the limit
24% of the salts sampled were below the required limits.
Samples above the range
13% of the salts sampled were above the recommended range.
Samples at the top level
Thirty-three samples, or 6%, had a potassium iodate level of 84 mg/kg.
What the authors conclude
“Continuous monitoring of edible salts at the retail level is important to detect brands not adhering to standards and trace them for remedy.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say continuous monitoring of edible salts at the retail level is important to detect brands not adhering to standards and trace them for remedy.
- They advise that governmental efforts should be directed to the quality control and quality assurance of the salt-manufacturing industries.
How it was done
Iodine deficiency is a global public health problem, and Kenyan law sets a required range for potassium iodate in processed edible salt.
Field workers collected 539 salt samples from seven local manufacturers or packers across eight regions of Kenya and sent them to the National Public Health Laboratory for potassium iodate analysis.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study only measured potassium iodate levels in salt samples at one point in time.
- It cannot show whether the levels in these salts change over time or how they affect people's iodine intake.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ministry of Health, Kenya
The paper
- Title
- Potassium iodate levels in processed edible salts available in retail shops throughout Kenya, 2013
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Githinji GG, Njine N, Njihia J, Mwihia J, Ransom J (2018). Potassium iodate levels in processed edible salts available in retail shops throughout Kenya, 2013. Public health nutrition. doi:10.1017/S1368980018000915Free full textPubMed 29669614DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error