The Wire

Iodine: It’s been in the news this week because kids are reportedly getting dumber. That’s according to an editorial in this month’s Australian Medical Journal which says almost half of all Australian primary school children are iodine deficient, potentially affecting their mental and physical development. The article has been followed by calls for the mandatory iodisation of all edible salt in Australia. But can fortifying food with vitamins and minerals have unwanted consequences? Dr Vicki Flood from the NSW Centre for Public Health and Lydia Buchtmann, Communications Manager at Food Standards Australia and New Zealand spoke to Sophie Gyles about the politics of food fortification.