The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits, Revised and Updated 5th Anniversary Edition

The Annapurna Salt Story: Public Health and Private Enterprise

Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) is the world’s leading cause of mental disorders, including retardation and low IQ. Research indicates that 30 percent of the world’s population is at risk for IDD. Well-balanced diets provide the required amount of iodine, making the poor particularly susceptible to IDD. In India, almost 90 percent of the population earns less than $3,000 per year;¹ more than 70 million are already inflicted with IDD and another 200 million are at risk.² Because even the poorest eat salt, it is globally recognized as the best vehicle for supplementing diets with iodine.

However, many still do not receive the required amount of iodine from salt because:

• Only about ...