I grew up with Morton Salt in the cupboard. I think that is the only salt my mom ever bought. I remember the commercial “When it rains, it pours” on the tv–is that still a commercial? So when I needed to buy salt at the store yesterday my eyes automatically went to the little blue container with the little girl with the umbrella on it. But I didn’t buy it because I was lured by the generic salt that was quite a bit cheaper. Salt is salt right? No, I couldn’t open the generic container. How hard is it to take the sticker off and pull up the little silver thingy? Afterall, salt containers haven’t changed in 40 years probably (I don’t know I’m not that old). The sticker tore into little pieces and had to be pulled off bit by bit. The little silver thingy ripped my nail! Yes, it can be important to buy the salt your mom had in the cupboard.
That salt mistake reminded me of my other more serious salt mistake. For some reason I managed to buy salt that wasn’t iodized years ago when we were first married. My husband was concerned that we were both going to end up with a bulbous protrusion on the neck. I explained that it was a mistake, and I didn’t think goiter was common in the United States–we should be okay for awhile. I ended up buying Morton salt later that day. Of course now, years later, I hear of a lady with a goiter that lives near my sister. Yep, she must have been salting with the uniodized salt. My husband will never let me forget it.
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While you’ve mentioned the unsightly goiter than can characterize iodine deficiency, the true concern is for impaired mental capacity for any children you might conceive while iodine deficient. An iodine-deficient expectant mother can cost her “pride and joy” 10 to 15 IQ points. Mental retardation is the product of severe deficiency. Consuming iodized salt is more important than looking good in that new necklace.
Dick Hanneman
President, Salt Institute