Optimizing iodine nutrition in Belgium: a selective, progressive and monitored approach to control iodine deficiency

Since 1990, many countries world-wide implemented salt iodisation programs in an effort to tackle iodine deficiency. It was however only during the last few years that an effort was undertaken in order to eliminate iodine deficiency as a public health problem in Belgium. In autumn 1998, a nation-wide study among children clearly showed mild iodine deficiency in Belgium, but no action was taken before 2009. It was only in the framework of the first National Nutrition and Health Plan 2005-2010 that iodine deficiency was formally recognized as a public health problem. An agreement between the Min... Mehr ...