Iodine Fortification and the Choice of Salt in Bread as its Carrier

On 28 March 2008, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) released the administrative assessment of FSANZ Proposal P1003 – Mandatory Iodine Fortification for Australia. The deadline for public submissions on this proposal is 6pm (Canberra time) 20 May 2008. The First Assessment Report on Proposal P1003 was released on 22 April 2008. While this consultative process continues in Australia, FSANZ Proposal P230 was gazetted for New Zealand to move ahead and introduce mandatory fortification in salt for bread in New Zealand.

This article considers some of the key issues regarding mandatory fortification of food. When FSANZ adopts mandatory fortification of any ingredient in any food, it dictates compositional requirements in food and it removes the decision from manufacturers and consumers to choose whether they want that ingredient in that food. It also can be said to involve ‘medicinalisation’ of the food supply with all the legal ramifications for the health impacts which are entailed.

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