Fluoride content in table salt from the Element Project in Mexico City

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Food Science
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Fluoride fortification in table salt is a public health strategy to prevent dental caries.
• Compliance with established fluoride content standards in table salt is crucial for effective public health interventions.
• The Element project provided an opportunity to assess the fluoride content of table salt in Mexican households.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the fluoride content in table salt samples from households participating in the Element project.
• To compare the measured fluoride levels against Mexican standards for table salt (200-250 mg/kg).

Main Methods:

• Salt samples were collected from mother-offspring pairs within the Element project.
• Fluoride analysis was performed using a fluoride ion-selective electrode and a pH/ISE meter in duplicate.
• A total of 657 salt samples from 14 different brands were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Fluoride concentrations in the analyzed salt samples varied widely, ranging from 0.016 to 477.9 mg/kg.
• Of the 607 samples labeled as fluoridated, 72.8% contained fluoride levels below the recommended range.
• Additionally, 13.8% of fluoridated samples exceeded the Mexican norm, with only 13.3% falling within the acceptable limits.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of table salt in Mexico does not meet the recommended fluoride content standards.
• There is a need for future studies with representative sampling to accurately assess table salt fluoride levels.
• Findings suggest potential adjustments may be necessary for the current public health monitoring program for fluoride in table salt, especially in high-fluoride regions.