34 As of 2007, 34 developing countries had reached the universal salt iodization target.
World Fit For Children Goal: Sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders by 2005.
A massive worldwide effort dramatically raised the proportion of people consuming iodized salt, from less than 20 per cent in the early 1990s to more than two thirds (69 per cent) by 2000. This means that about 85 million newborns are now being protected from learning disabilities caused by iodine deficiency disorders every year.
As of 2007, 34 developing countries had reached the universal salt iodization target and 120 developing countries had salt iodization programmes, compared with 90 countries in 2000. Twenty countries increased their proportion of household consumption of iodized salt by 20 percentage points or more and maintained a level of 70 per cent or higher.
There are large disparities in adequately iodized salt consumption among regions of the developing world. The highest levels are found in Latin America and the Caribbean and East Asia and the Pacific, while the lowest levels are in CEE/CIS. In sub-Saharan Africa almost two thirds of households consume adequately iodized salt.
