Iodine deficiency resurfaces
Iodine deficiency has been documented in Lebanon since the 1960s. A pilot program with iodized salt reduced goiter and led to Law 178/1971, although instability delayed implementation. A 1993 national survey found goiter in roughly a quarter of school-age children and confirmed iodine deficiency as a public health problem before universal salt iodization began in 1995. Program effectiveness weakened after 2011, and by 2013-2014 children’s iodine status had nearly returned to pre-iodization levels. Recent nationally representative data reaffirmed the gap with only 49% of households using salt with adequate iodine levels, 35% using non-iodized salt, and just 8% meeting the national standard. This leaves pregnant women and rural households particularly vulnerable.
Partners rebuild quality control and oversight
In early 2024, IGN partnered with UNICEF, the American University of Beirut (AUB), and the Ministries of Economy and Trade and Public Health to improve the quality and consistency of iodized salt by strengthening quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) across Lebanon’s salt producers. The team trained factory workers and government auditors on iodization techniques, in-house lab setup, and potassium-iodate titration. They developed standard operating procedures tailored to the industry and carried out twelve monthly joint factory visits, with salt samples tested on-site and at AUB’s laboratory. Coordination between ministries was tightened to clarify roles and streamline enforcement. In parallel, a key partnership with the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce brought routine potassium-iodate titration closer to producers, at a faster and lower cost, embedding QA/QC capacity in local infrastructure.
All three major factories were compliant
Factory performance shifted from widespread non-compliance to consistent adherence to Lebanon’s standard range by January 20205. Authorities and partners are now institutionalizing these strides through bi-monthly QA/QC visits, lab checking, and national coordination meetings. These steps, taken amid economic strain and resource constraints, are designed to sustain the supply of adequately iodized salt and protect maternal and child health.
