Anvisa prohibits the sale of a batch of salt from the Carrefour brand – 7/5/2023 – Market

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) prohibited the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of batch 22,992 of Carrefour’s refined salt. The decision was published in the Official Gazette this Wednesday (5).

The suspension and recall of the Carrefour salt batch took place after the product showed unsatisfactory results in tests that measure the iodine content, according to the agency. At the time, the batch showed an iodine concentration below the limit established by law.

The Carrefour Group reported that it performs recurring tests on all its own brand products. According to the company, the aforementioned product had been tested in May, and the results of the analyzed samples were within the parameters required by Anvisa.

Carrefour also reinforced that it immediately requested the withdrawal of batch 22,992 from all stores where it was available for purchase, and that it is in contact with its supplier to find out the fact.

The network did not say whether there will be any action to meet the consumer who has purchased the vetoed lot.

Which batch of Carrefour salt was prohibited by Anvisa?

Lot 22,992 of Carrefour salt had its marketing, manufacture and distribution prohibited by Anvisa. The agency recommended the immediate recall of the vetoed lot.

Why was the sale of Carrefour salt suspended?

Anvisa requires that salt used on a daily basis have minimal amounts of iodine in its composition. Therefore, the name of the product is called refined iodized salt.

The regulatory agency says that batch 22,992 has shown in laboratory tests to have an amount of iodine below the mandatory amount in legislation.

What is the minimum amount of iodine that must be present in salt?

Resolution 604 of the Ministry of Health and Anvisa, published on February 10, 2022, establishes mandatory iodine parameters in salt.

The norm says that the salt must contain, until the end of its validity period, a content equal to or greater than 15 mg of iodine per kilogram of salt. The maximum limit is 45 mg of iodine per kilogram.

Enrichment of salt with iodine is only not mandatory if the product is used as an ingredient in foods that may suffer sensory interference from iodine.

The label must inform the consumer that the salt is enriched with iodine, with a phrase displayed next to the table with the nutritional data.

Why is salt added with iodine?

Iodine is a fundamental chemical element for human health. The mineral helps the body produce the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which we produce in the thyroid gland.

These hormones are responsible for the development and functioning of the brain, the nervous system and for metabolic processes.

According to the Ministry of Health, the addition of iodine to the salt we use in the kitchen began in the 1950s. The intention was to fight the Iodine Deficiency Disorder, which affected 20% of the population at the time and especially impaired the growth of children.

After decades of intervention, there was a reduction in the disorder: only 1.4% of Brazilians had iodine deficiency in the 2000s, says the folder.

Where to identify the batch of Carrefour salt on the packaging?

The batch of Carrefour brand salt is on the back of the package.