Quality Control at production sites and in

sales channels

ARNOLD TIMMER,

UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE CEE/CIS & Baltics13 October 2004

This presentation:

• Linking quality control with overall programme aim

• Identify main programmatic challenges

• Identify main monitoring attention points

• Discussion and apply lessons learned to your own monitoring system

Purpose

• Establishment of a monitoring system that can– identify problems, – provide solutions,

and

– ensure that corrective measures are taken.

Main Aim External Monitoring

• Ensure adequate iodine levels in salt at household level

• Ensure consumers’ access to iodized salt

Programmatic Issues

• Quality of iodized salt production?

• Iodine loss in salt between factory and consumption?

• Use of iodized salt for food processing?

• Use of iodized salt for animal consumption?

• Access of all population groups in all geographic areas to iodized salt?

Programmatic Issues

• Enforcement challenges?– Illegal salt: repackaging as iodized?– Sale of non-iodized salt (originally

produced as technical salt or edible salt)?– Access of consumers to technical and/or

non-iodized animal salt?– Capacity to implement government

standards (as spelled out in legislation): technical (testing equipment, training), inadequate manpower, roles/responsibilities not defined?

Use of information • Who reports on information collected?• How is the information reported?• Does the reported information address your

programmatic concerns?• How will monitoring information be used? • Who will use the information?• How will the collected information lead to

corrective measures in the production, distribution and use of iodized salt?

• Will the corrective measures have an effect on the final aim to ensure adequate iodine status of the consumer?

Salt Iodizaton Monitoring System

Access Coverage

Utilization and Impact

Salt Producers

Salt Importers

RetailStores

HouseholdsTarget

Population

Salt Iodization Monitoring System

Industry (internal)

External Commercial

Locally Produced

salt

Importedsalt

QualityAssurance

QualityControl

InspectionTechnicalAuditing

RetailInspection

Certificate of quality

Certificate of conformity

WholesaleWholesaleRetailRetail

TradersTraders

SaltSaltProductionProduction

Salt ProducersAnd Distributors

For foodIndustry

ForHouse-

holduse

Market

Consumer

Household

PopulationNutrient Status

Impact

Salt Iodization Monitoring System

Iodine content in salt

40 + 15 ppm min. 15 ppm

Illegal production & trade

Salt Iodization Monitoring System

Iodine content in salt

Factors of influence:

-Time

-Humidity

-Temperature/light

-Packaging material

-Quality of salt

-KIO3 or KI

Studies: China• Salt used:

– 572 samples from 58 salt companies from 31 provinces

– Refined (purified, crushed) and unrefined crude salt

• Storage conditions, in kitchen:– Plastic container with cover– Closed plastic bag– In plastic bag but open– Sealed big sack in factory

• Thoroughly mixed and samples analyzed at:– 3 – 6 – 9 – 12 months

Results - China

• Results:– No changes in iodine content during 1 year

even in unrefined salt, even in open bags.– Concentration varied over time in crude

salt because iodine is less homogeneous in the salt.

Studies - Macedonia

1. Normal temperature (20 C), humidity (40%) and light

2. Normal temperature (20 C), humidity (40%) and no light

3. High temperature, normal humidity and no light

4. Normal temperature (20 C), high humidity and no light

• Duration 5 months

Macedonia: Iodine Content (mg/kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

May June July August Sept

+ light, closedpackage+ light, half closed

+ light, open

Macedonia: Iodine Content (mg/kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

May June July August Sept

- light, half closed- light, open

Macedonia: Iodine Content (mg/kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

May June July August Sept

high T, + light, halfclosedhigh T, + light, open

Studies: Micronutrient Initiative: - salt from several countries -

• Humidity: 60% and 100%

• Temperature: 20 and 40 C

• Packaging: polyethylene, woven bags

• Analyses 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months

• Results:

Source: Micronutrient Initiative

Source: Micronutrient Initiative

Main iodine losses

• Refined salt retains iodine better than unrefined salt

• KIO3 is better retained than KI in salt• Polyethylene package retains iodine better

than carton or jute package, and better than no package

• In high humidity iodine retention is lower• In high temperature iodine retention is lower• Light does not influence iodine retention• Retention of KIO3 in salt is 70-80% after 1 year

in low humidity, polyethylene packages.

Programmatic Considerations

• What can be easily changed??– Fortificant: KI or KIO3– Quality of salt– The way and time salt is stored between

factory and household– The way people use and store salt at the

household– The way salt is packaged

Programmatic Considerations

• What can be easily changed??– Fortificant: KI or KIO3

– The way salt is packaged

source: USI monitoring manual - 1995

External monitoring:Focus: what, where to monitor?

• Iodine level adequate?– Production!– Wholesale?– Retail?– Household?

• Check if the monitoring you propose answers the programmatic questions that apply– Is iodized salt production adequate and reliable?– Do you need to identify areas/population groups

with no availability to iodized salt?– Is counterfeited salt/smuggling an issue? – Etc.

Monitoring at retail level

• Retail shops may sell iodized salt and/or non-iodized salt. The main purpose for monitoring at retail level is to identify areas where:– An inadequate proportion of shops is

selling iodized salt– Non-iodized salt is available in the market– Salt packaged and labelled as iodized is

not adequately iodized

How to collect the information?

• Traditionally, iodine in salt tests:– Test kit– Titration– WYD checker

• Salt situation analysis• Salt producers: where does salt flow, clients• Household surveys• NGO and other reports• National coalition meetings• Observations

Use of information

• Who reports to whom? – SES to national coalition– Salt producers to salt association– National coalition to Minister of Health

• How is information used?– Define clear corrective actions to be taken:

• Change number of samples and where samples should be taken

• Change standards• Information campaigns• Strengthen partnerships

Consider importance of corrective action

• Moderate climate, refined (high quality) salt in polyethylene, retention of iodine is of no concern if used within 1 year.

• Monitor:– Establish QA at factory level to ensure iodized salt produced

according to standard– Monitor iodine in salt at retail or household level; – If acceptable, no action required– If not acceptable, check and improve quality of iodized salt,

or increase iodization level– Address other programmatic issues in your monitoring

system

• Measures to improve household storage and use are a waste of time and effort and will show little result

Discussion

• Identify programmatic concerns

• Identify weaknesses in current monitoring and reasons

• Recommendations for further discussion in group work