PFA Act affects livelihood of one lakh people in AP

Machilipatnam, Jan 24 (UNI) Livelihood of more than one lakh people, who depend on selling non-iodised salt in Andhra Pradesh are affected with the enforcement of Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act since May 27, 2005 by the Centre.

According to official sources here, the enforcement of section 23 of the Act, had badly affected people selling common salt either through bullock carts or by carrying salt baskets in rural areas.

Meanwhile, a leading doctor and specialists in treating Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Dr Gottipati Ramakrishna Rao, talking to UNI at Kuchipudi about 25 km from here, said IDD was posing a serious threat to health of hundred million people worldwide.

Stating that iodine was an essential component for thyroid hormones, needed for optimal mental, physical development and regulation of body metabolism, Dr Rao said iodine was important for the development of brain as its deficiency could result in permanent damage of brain, which could be prevented by correcting iodine deficiency before and during pregnancy.

Iodine deficiency could also result in impairment of speech and hearing, squint, psychomotor defects and goitre, he added.

He said 92 countries, including China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Srilanka, Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar and Thailand had implemented compulsory salt iodisation for human consumption.

Globally, iodated salt was recognized as the cheapest and most sustainable way to prevent and control iodine deficiency disorders, he informed.

Dr Rao said recent survey covering 321 districts in all states and Union Territories in the country showed that 260 districts were endemic to iodine deficiency disorders.

While no state and Union Territory was free from Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the number of people presently suffering from IDD was nearly 71 million, he added.

UNI