Iodized Salt Sales in the United States

Abstract

ObjectivesIdentify iodized table salt sales as a percentage of all table salt sales at the retail level in the United States.MethodsNielsen Scan track (New York, NY) 2009 data was used to identify salt products sold in the United States. Nielsen collects information from a stratified probability sample of chain and large independent grocery stores. Sales data are aggregated and not linked to individuals. Two grocery modules that included salt products were identified. Following a standard search protocol, two dietitians categorized the salt products as iodized or non‐iodized using product descriptions. More details related to the ingredients and label were obtained using the manufacturer and other websites.ResultsA total of 1117 salt products were identified, of which 701 were salt blends (e.g., garlic salt) comprising 16% of the sales volume of the total salt products. Of the remaining 416 salt products, 57 were iodized based on available label information. When weighted by sales volume (in ounces or each sold), 53% of salt sold (excluding salt blends) was iodized. Of the 47% of non‐iodized salt sold, about 68% was regular salt, 19% Kosher salt, and 12% sea salt.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the proportion of iodized and non‐iodized salt sales at the retail level in the United States. Sales data from Nielsen ScanTrack do not include warehouse stores (e.g. Walmart and Costco), retailers with sales less than @2 million, or non‐UPC coded products and not all places where salt can be purchased were tracked. These findings may provide a baseline for future monitoring of sales of iodized salt.