Effect of Storage on Iodine Content in Salts Sold in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Iodine content of six brands of salt samples (two imported and four locally produced), stored in their original salt packages (plastic container with lid and polythene plastic salt packet) commonly sold in Port Harcourt metropolis, were estimated at intervals of fourteen days, for two months. Of the two imported samples (A and B), Sample A had iodine content of 10.10mg/kg while sample B had no iodine. All of the iodine in sample A was lost after 2 weeks of storage. Iodine content of the locally produced Salt samples (D-F) ranged from 26.50±0.61mg/kg (Sample E) to 59.75±0.61mg/kg (Sample F).Iodine content of Sample E was significantly (P<0.05) below the minimum legal requirement of 50 mg/kg in contrast to the declaration on the packet. Highest percentage loss of iodine, accounting for 18.50% was observed in Sample E (from 26.50±0.61mg/kg to 21.15±2.21mg/kg) after four weeks of storage. Other samples recorded losses ranging from 5.27% to 8.29% after storage. Even though there were slight decreases in iodine content in most of the salt brands, the contents were still with in the recommended levels of 30mg/kg at retail level.