A 1926 advertisement for Morton’s Salt described how iodized salt helped ensure the mental and physical health of children. The information in the advertisement was based on discoveries made a few years earlier. Iodine deficiency is a leading cause of preventable developmental and intellectual disabilities, as well as a cause of goiters, which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.
In the early 20th century, a Swiss doctor discovered that a very small amount of iodine could prevent goiters. It was also found that salt was an effective way to distribute iodine. Salt does not spoil, and iodine in salt remains relatively stable when stored or heated. Since very little iodine needs to be added to the salt, it was a cost effective way to prevent disabilities and goiters caused by lack of iodine. Switzerland was the first country to put iodine in salt.
Soon, there was interest in adding iodine to salt in the U.S. In 1924, the Morton Salt Company began offering an iodized salt.
I’d become so accustomed to iodized salt that, when I bought the Kosher salt specified in some recipe, it took a while for me to realize it doesn’t contain iodine, despite the notice on the packaging.
I sometimes miss reading notices on packages. The older I get, the more difficult it is for me to read some of the small print on some food packaging.
I remember learning about salt preventing goiters when I was in elementary school. What an enchanting graphic in that ad.
Similarly to you, I heard about goiters when I was young, but hadn’t thought about them in years until I saw this ad in an old magazine. I also liked the ad’s graphic.
I wonder how that affects those of us who are going low salt.
Seaweed and fish are good sources of iodine and there’s lots more too.
Thanks for the info about some other good sources of iodine.
I never realized that children could be affected by goiters.
I knew very little about goiters until I did this post. As I worked on this post, I was surprised to learn that an iodine deficiency can cause both goiters and developmental delays in children.
Good facts to know.
Not all additives are bad!!! Who Knew….. We did.
Agree – it was a good way to improve the health of people.
Very interesting! Salts are so good for us, I’m a big fan of Pink Himalayan salt and Celtic Sea salt!
There are lots of trace minerals in minimally processed types of salt.