# What's the deal with non-iodized salt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207 "2011-04-04T23:02:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/41 "2011-04-07T15:24:59Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It doesn’t have the same mechanism as say, pollen allergy, but some people ARE sensitive to iodine, to the point of dying if overexposed. Ask a radiologist about it some time - it’s called “iodine allergy” and is an issue with some medical imaging contrast solutions. I used to work with a radiologist who moved into research after the third or fourth time a patient went into anaphylaxis on the table because, as she put it, “I didn’t become a doctor to accidentally kill people”. Granted, _most_ radiologists don’t react that way, but it’s a real phenomena and a real risk. > > The normal amounts of iodine in their body don’t affect them adversely, it’s when the amount goes over a certain threshold. I talk to radiologists about this sort of thing on a daily basis. The salient (heh!) point is that the anaphylactoid reaction to iodinated contrast medium is not IgE mediated and is not because of the iodine itself. “Iodine allergy” is a misnomer as you point out, it should more correctly be called “IV dye allergy” ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/42 "2011-04-07T15:33:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > **Surreal** : Thank you for demonstrating that even Nobel Laureates deserve to be ignored on some issues. [Now educate yourself on the reality of the situation, not what idiots spew.](http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/) I need to educate myself? Interesting. If you’re so knowledgeable about the benefits of water fluoridation, please explain to me why Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland do not fluoridate at all. Also explain to me why water fluoridation is so rare throughout the remainder of Europe. Are they simply ignorant? Misinformed? What do you know that they don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/43 "2011-04-07T15:50:12Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Now educate yourself on the reality of the situation, not what idiots spew.](http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/) So only 41% of adolescents aged 12-15 in the U.S. suffer the fluoride-induced side effect of dental fluorosis? That’s very reassuring: [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm#prevalence](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm#prevalence) With slim odds like that, you’d _have_ to be an idiot not to support fluoridation. ---
**Author:** ![heavyarms553](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@heavyarms553](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heavyarms553)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/44 "2011-04-07T16:06:33Z")
I was under the impression that excessive consumption of iodine, above and beyond what someone would expect to receive with a diet including iodized salt, suppressed thyroid function via the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. This being the case with euthyroid individuals, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/45 "2011-04-07T17:49:27Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > …please explain to me why Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland do not fluoridate at all. Also explain to me why water fluoridation is so rare throughout the remainder of Europe. Besides naturally occuring fluoridation, ignorance and paranoia? [Here are some reasons:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation) > [@](#): > > Communities have discontinued water fluoridation in some countries, including Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. This change was often motivated by political opposition to water fluoridation, but sometimes the need for water fluoridation was met by alternative strategies. The use of fluoride in its various forms is the foundation of tooth decay prevention throughout Europe; for example, France, Germany, and many other European countries use fluoridated salt. So now you can get flouride with your iodine with your salt. What’s next? ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/46 "2011-04-07T18:25:55Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Besides naturally occuring fluoridation, ignorance and paranoia? [Here are some reasons:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation)So now you can get flouride with your iodine with your salt. What’s next? None of the countries that I listed above fluoridates their salt or their water. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/47 "2011-04-07T18:30:09Z")
I’m glad that non-iodized salt is easy to get. I use it for making saline for my neti pot (nasal wash). I’m told that saline from iodized salt really stings the sinuses. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/48 "2011-04-07T18:33:01Z")
OK, so we iodize salt to ensure that people get enough iodine. Clear enough. But, why did we pick salt as the delivery mechanism? Why not some other food product? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/49 "2011-04-07T19:03:02Z")
Because everyone eats salt, and will eat enough salt to insure sufficient levels of iodine in the diet. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/50 "2011-04-08T01:01:38Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > This looks like the precise opposite of unbiased. Is it as biased as I imagine it is? The CDC is an organizaton of experts. You and **Surreal** are… ? ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/51 "2011-04-08T01:40:31Z")
> [@mrklutz](#): > > I’m told that saline from iodized salt really stings the sinuses. You can say that again… ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/52 "2011-04-08T05:10:52Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > Yes, I see Europeans’ teeth every day (there are still a few colleagues who smile to me once in a while). > > And your point is? Have you not watched Austin Powers? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/53 "2011-04-08T05:22:42Z")
I use it for cleaning my nose piercing. (You’re supposed to use salt water to clean piercings – preferably sea salt, but Kosher salt is good too.) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/54 "2011-04-08T08:14:36Z")
> [@heavyarms553](#): > > I was under the impression that excessive consumption of iodine, above and beyond what someone would expect to receive with a diet including iodized salt, suppressed thyroid function via the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. This being the case with euthyroid individuals, obviously. You are quite right, but must also acknowledge that the normal thyroid will “escape” from the Wolf-Chaikoff effect within a few days. In other words, in normal people, excessive iodine intake does not lead to hypothyroidism. On the other hand, in abnormal thyroids and, in particular, those with previous or occult thyroiditis, there may be no escape from the Wolf-Chaikoff effect. In that setting, hypothyroidism _can_ develop secondary to excess iodine intake. This is probably the main mechanism for the hypothyroidism that arises during therapy with amiodarone, i.e. the amiodarone causes a thyroiditis (which may, of course, by itself lead to hypothryoidism) which then renders the gland unable to escape from the Wolf-Chaikoff effect that is induced by the large quantity of iodine in the amiodarone preparation. Likewise, people with subclinical thyroiditis due to autoimmune thyroid disease may develop full blown hypothyroidism in the setting of excess iodine intake. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/55 "2011-04-08T08:24:44Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > Have you not watched Austin Powers? Ah, yes. That documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/56 "2011-04-08T11:00:59Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > Have you not watched Austin Powers? 'Course I have. Do you also expect to meet Dr. Evil and Mini-Me the next time you visit a tropical island? ---
**Author:** ![tom3my](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@tom3my](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tom3my)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/57 "2016-03-25T15:59:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Right: Lack of iodine causes goiters and mental retardation. It was a huge problem in the Great Lakes region and the Pacific Northwest before we figured out what caused it and began to iodize salt. It’s an important public health initiative, like fluoridating water and vaccination programs. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it’s been opposed by morons. Yes and to much can cause Hypothyroidism as well. And fluoride has been tested in a part of the Netherlands by adding it to the water…result: in that area the most people with bad teeth. Many people have never been vaccinated and never have gotten sick. So this is really useless what you type. How much iodine do I need? In your entire lifetime you will need less than a teaspoon of iodine to ensure good health, however, since it is dangerous to consume that much iodine at once, it is best to eat a little each day. You only need 150 micrograms (mcg, µg), or 20,000th of a teaspoon, to meet your daily requirement. ---
**Author:** ![tom3my](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90ced4/32.png) [@tom3my](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tom3my)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/58 "2016-03-25T16:17:43Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Yes, but do Europeans tend to claim vaccines cause autism and fluoride is what the Nazis used in concentration camps to keep the Jews docile? > > _That_ is what I mean. > > (And, yeah, I would be interested in seeing if the parts of Europe that don’t fluoridate drinking water have significantly higher rates of tooth decay compared to the regions that do. I know it’s possible to achieve the same effect with toothpaste, so this isn’t a foregone conclusion.) i am from the netherlands. And the part actually where they did fluoridate the water became the part where most people had a lot of tooth decay. In the netherlands most people also go to the dentist 2 times a year or more. Children more often. So i don`t see the point why it should be added to water or anything else. It is still considered to be poison if taken to many. And toothpaste is also advised not to take in, right??? And iodine, if you eat healthy. adding iodine would then again be dangerous. So just live healthy Derleth, then you would not be a complete moron 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/59 "2016-03-25T16:42:41Z")
> [@tom3my](#): > > So just live healthy Derleth, then you would not be a complete moron 🙂 . **Moderator Note** **tom3my** , personal insults are not permitted on this board outside the BBQ Pit. (And no, adding a smiley does not make it OK.) Since you are new, I am making this a moderator note instead of an official warning. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207/60 "2016-03-25T17:19:54Z")
> [@](#): > > In the Netherlands, dental caries has dramatically decreased during past decades and has stabilized since 1990 (Kalsbeek & Poorterman, 2003). Currently, children of 12 years of age have a mean DMFT-index of less than one (0.8) (European HFA Database, 2006). This caries reduction is attributable to the improvement of tooth brushing behaviour in general, **as well as to the widespread use of fluoride (e.g. fluoridated toothpaste)**. Nevertheless, the caries problem in our country is still far from being solved (Kalsbeek & Poorterman, 2003). This also appears from the cost of illness figures for caries: treatment of dental caries results in total costs of € 1.6 billion (Slobbe et al., 2006). –[Factsheet from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment](http://www.rivm.nl/Onderwerpen/K/Kosteneffectiviteit_van_preventie/Economische_evaluaties/Spijsverteringsstelsel/Mondholte_speekselklieren_en_kaakziekten/Factsheet_Fluoridering_van_drinkwater_Engels) [emphasis added] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207.md?page=4)