Shall assess risk of increased iodine fortification in Norway

Background

The Iodine Fortification Programme was launched in June 2025 by Mattilsynet, the Directorate of Health, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to increase iodine intake in the population. The programme includes, among other measures, a recommendation to add 20 µg iodine per 100 g salt in household salt and salt used in industrially produced bread and unsweetened baked goods.

The assignment

VKM will estimate iodine intake in different population groups based on the latest dietary data and established reference values for iodine. In the risk assessment, VKM will:

• Assess current iodine intake and various scenarios for increased fortification.

• Identify groups at risk of low or high intake.

• Describe sources of iodine in the diet and how these change with increased fortification.

• Evaluate the effect of the Iodine Fortification Programme and uncertainties in intake estimates.

Project group

The VKM project group consists of:

• Inger Aakre, member of VKM’s Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy (scientific lead)

• Anine C Medin, member of VKM’s Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy

• Tor A Strand, Chair of VKM’s Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy

• Jostein Starrfelt, external expert (Statistics Norway)

• Inger Therese Lillegaard, VKM Secretariat

• Christine L Parr, VKM Secretariat

• Bente Mangschou, VKM Secretariat (project leader)

The risk assessment will be approved by VKM’s Panel on Nutrition, Dietetic Products, Novel Food and Allergy. The project group will prepare a protocol for the work, which will be submitted for public consultation.