Objective

To identify the challenges involved in the implementation of the global policy on salt iodization for human consumption.

Methods

A review of the literature published between 2000 and 2021 in PubMed was carried out with the MeSH terms iodine, public policy, sodium chloride and supplementary terms iodine/deficiency, excess. 141 articles were obtained and 50 were reviewed, applying the iodization policy implementation approach as an inclusion criterion.

Results

Seven challenges were identified: sustainability of the policy, closing the gap between exploitation and commercialization of salt, preventing indiscriminate fortification of food, promoting education on iodized salt intake, controlling excessive iodine intake, balance optimal iodine intake with reduced sodium chloride intake and produce sufficient official policy information.

Conclusion

The universal iodization of salt is a policy that requires greater sensitivity to the local situations of each country to effectively mitigate the public health problem of disorders due to deficiency and excess intake of iodine around the world.