Hong Kong adults asked to consume high-iodine foods

Consumers are advised to consume a variety of high-iodine foods in light of the findings of a risk assessment study
released by the Centre for Food Safety. Examples of high-iodine foods are seaweed, seafood, egg and egg products, milk and milk products.

The study examined the level of iodine in foods on sale in the local market and assessed the dietary iodine intake of Hong Kong adults.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "On the basis of foods that people frequently consume, the CFS collected a total of 271 samples of 92 food items from 11 food groups at local retail markets and restaurants between February and April 2009 to analyse the iodine levels of the edible parts."

He added that the findings indicated that based on the results of the Hong Kong Population-based Food Consumption Survey 2005-2007, the median dietary iodine intake among adults was estimated to be 44 μg per day.

The findings also showed that based on the dietary reference intakes established by the Chinese Nutrition Society for Chinese adults, 93 per cent of the population had an iodine intake below the Recommended Nutrient Intake of 150 μg per day.

 "Consumers should follow the WHO's recommendation by taking no more than five grammes of salt from all sources every day, and replacing non-iodised salt with iodised salt," he added.