Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department Advocates for Double-Fortified Salt in Ration Shops
In a significant move to tackle persistently high anaemia rates across the population, the Tamil Nadu food safety department is strongly advocating for the distribution of double-fortified salt through the public distribution system. This initiative comes as traditional approaches, including medicines, nutrition campaigns, and dietary counselling, have failed to adequately reduce anaemia prevalence among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and adolescents.
Official Recommendation and Strategic Adjustment
Dr. S. Chitrasena, Deputy Director of Food Safety, confirmed that the department has formally submitted a recommendation to the state government. The proposal calls for exclusively supplying iron- and iodine-enriched salt through ration shops. To maintain affordability, the department also suggested reducing the packet size from one kilogram to 750 grams while keeping the price for a pack of ten unchanged.
"This adjustment serves a dual purpose," Dr. Chitrasena explained. "It will naturally reduce overall salt consumption while ensuring that the salt people do use significantly boosts their iron intake."
Nutritional Impact and Daily Requirements
Given that the average daily salt intake in the region is approximately 10 grams, the introduction of double-fortified salt is projected to deliver substantial nutritional benefits. It is estimated to provide 30–60% of the recommended dietary allowance for iron and 100% of the daily requirement for iodine (150 micrograms).
"Even if individuals halve their daily salt consumption, this fortified salt would still fulfil up to 30% of their daily iron needs," Dr. Chitrasena added. The daily iron requirements vary: 19–20 mg for men, 18–22 mg for non-pregnant, non-lactating women, and approximately 35 mg for pregnant or lactating women.
Existing Precedents and Broader Implementation
The concept of fortified salt is not new to Tamil Nadu. The Integrated Child Development Services has utilized it in breakfast and noon-meal schemes for nearly a decade. Supplying it through ration shops is envisioned as a "population-wide nudge" to enhance iron intake universally.
Simultaneously, the state wing of the National Health Mission has recommended incorporating fortified salt into the nutrition kits provided to pregnant women during check-ups at government hospitals and primary health centres.
Alarming Anaemia Statistics Despite Interventions
Recent data underscores the urgency of this intervention. Between January 2025 and January 2026, nearly 30,000 pregnant women registered on the state's PICME platform were diagnosed with anaemia, including about 10,700 cases of severe anaemia. Health officials noted that most of these women were already on iron and folic acid supplements and had received repeated diet counselling, yet their haemoglobin levels showed insufficient improvement.
Furthermore, an extensive anaemia screening drive conducted in schools and community camps from June 2024 to May 2025 revealed a widespread issue among adolescents. Health teams screened over 1.83 million adolescents across 46 health unit districts, finding nearly 8.78 lakh (48%) to be anaemic, with over 7,000 classified as severely anaemic.
In several districts, two-thirds or more of those screened exhibited low haemoglobin levels, indicating that anaemia is deeply entrenched and extends well beyond isolated rural areas of deprivation.
Challenges in Current Medication Distribution
Dr. T. S. Selvavinayagam, former Director of Public Health, highlighted practical challenges in the current system for distributing medications to school students. "There are significant hurdles," he stated. "Some students may lack access to clean drinking water, distribution staff might be on leave, and ensuring every student consistently takes their medication is a persistent challenge."
The push for double-fortified salt through the public distribution system represents a strategic shift towards a more sustainable and accessible method of addressing iron deficiency anaemia at a population level in Tamil Nadu.
