“Thyroid function. If you don’t have enough iodine you end up getting goitre.” Hobart, Aged 36+ Among participants other than those who are older (aged 36 years or older) or residing in and , awareness of iodine as a substance to be consumed and its effect on thyroid functioning was generally low. These participants were still aware of iodine, but primarily as a disinfectant or wound treatment. “I don’t know any benefits. I just remember at school the brown stuff … a disinfectant?” - Balclutha, Aged 18+ “When I think of iodine I think of something like Betadine or something for wounds. Maybe it helps in blood clotting…” - , Interview In general, awareness of the natural sources of iodine was low, with only a small number mentioning fish or seafood as potential sources. By far the most well-known food source of iodine among participants was iodised salt. Following the discussion of the benefits of iodised salt some participants mentioned that they will continue to purchase the fortified product, rather than other types of salt. However, no participant mentioned switching from purchasing non-iodised to iodised salt. Iodine in pregnancy Awareness of the need to consume additional iodine during pregnancy was not nearly as strong as awareness of the need to consume folate (see heading 4.4.1). While some participants did mention having noticed iodine as a constituent of the pregnancy-specific multivitamin, they did not mention having received information from their doctor in relation to the benefits of consuming additional iodine during pregnancy. Iodine sensitivity One participant in this research had a family member with a relatively severe sensitivity to iodine when applied topically. This participant was not aware of iodine as a mineral in foods (or as a mineral included in iodised salt) and was quite surprised to find out that iodine does play a role in supporting thyroid function. Due to the sensitivity she had witnessed in her family member, this participant was concerned to find out that iodine may be included in foods. “I’m a bit worried about that now, knowing that iodine is in food. As I know what it does to my husbands outside, what does it do to his inside? I might get more information on that.” - , Interview
lite” on the label, Woolworths quality assurance label included on front; fresh low for milk, 3 litre, quality assured stamp; Woolworths Full Cream Milk No Fresh and Quality assured; Yoplait Le Rice No Yoplait Yoghurt No Star Wars [on the packaging] Salt Home Brand Salt No Lilydale Unknown Chicken salt, Australian Salt No White and yellow box, the name ‘Maldon’ Mitani Chicken Salt Unknown Reeva Unknown White and Red Packaging, same sort of packaging as Saxa, Australian product Sel Marin Gros Unknown Coarse Sea Salt, Italian product Ballarat Product name Fortified? Vitamins and minerals Description Breads and cereals Coles Quick Oats No Coles Wheatbix No Coles Smart buy, otherwise plain packaging Coles white bread Yes Thiamin, folic acid, mineral salt (calcium carbonate) White sandwich bread; white bread toast, sliced, Australian flag logo; Coles wholegrain bread (could only find multi-grain or wholemeal) Yes Iodised salt, mineral salt (calcium carbonate), Citric acid, iron, niacin, Vitamin E, Thiamin, folic acid Made in logo, basic packaging;
Homebrand Cheese Slices Lite No Kraft singles Yes D Smooth and creamy, individually wrapped – great for freshness; Meadow Lea Logicol No Mooloo milk Unknown Nuttelex margarine Yes A, D2, E No artificial additives, no cholesterol Paul’s Kids Yoghurt 12 Pack No Wiggles on packaging, cardboard outer pack Paul’s Strawberry Milk 6 Pack Unknown High in calcium, no artificial colours Pura light start milk No Only 1% fat, 18% of your daily needs, low GI, national foods; Pura milk No Milk, 1 litre, full milk, high in vitamin B2, nutritional information, plastic hourglass shape bottle; Vaalia yoghurt No Luscious berries, yoghurt, low fat, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives; Woolworths Lite Milk No Western Star Spreadable butter No Original spreadable butter Yoplait Lite yoghurt No Salt Mermaid Table salt No Table salt, a mermaid logo, ‘Australian owned since 1888’; Coles Table salt No Coles Table Salt, Australian owned; Product name Fortified? Vitamins and minerals Description Breads and cereals Carmen’s Fruit Free Muesli No Black and green box (easy to spot), 100%
Australian made and owned,; Coles Corn Flakes Yes Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron Australian made corn flakes, low fat, good source Country Life Bread Yes (white bread is not) Iodised salt ‘Multigrain’, ‘wholemeal’, ‘organic rye’ have thiamin. ‘Country grain and organic rye’ has thiamin and folic acid. Gluten free bread, low GI, 100% Gluten Free; Cripps High Top White bread Yes Thiamin, iodine Well-known brand, used at home regularly, good tasting; Cripps Master Loaf White Toast Bread Unknown Tasmanian, since 1878 Cripps Nubake Crumpets Unknown Crumpets split, 6 pack Home Brand muesli No Kellogg’s Just Right cereal Yes Iron, niacin, riboflavin, folate, thiamin Masterbread Thick slices, no preservatives Mighty Soft bread Yes Iodised salt, folic acid, Thiamin, Mineral salt (calcium carbonate) Sanitarium Skippy Corn Flakes Yes Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, folate, iron 99% fat free, 800gram value pack, made and packed in ; Sanitarium Weet Bix Yes Zinc, iron, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate 97% whole grain, low in sugar, long-lasting goodness and energy; Woolworths Bakehouse white bread Yes Thiamin, folate, iodised salt. White bread, backed on site that day, large 680gram loaf; Woolworths Bakehouse Four Seed Ploughman Bread Four seed ploughman bread, special reduced stickers. 680grams; Woolworths Bakehouse Wholemeal Bread Yes Thiamin, folate, iodised salt Wholemeal (You’ll love) Coles Puffs Yes Niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, iron. 700grams, source of vitamins, source iron,
crispy grains of rice; Fruit and vegetable juices Cascade Ultra C Blackcurrant Cordial Unknown Distinctive colour, picture of blackcurrants, cascade logo, ‘Tasmanian’; Extra Juicy Breakfast Juice Yes Calcium, vitamin C. 3 litre, with vitamins A, C and E, no added sugar; Home Brand Orange juice Yes Vitamin C No. of litres – 3, source of Vitamin C, no added sugar, nutritional information. Mildura Sunrise Apple and Guava Fruit drink Yes Vitamin C Logo is a drawing, orange colour Dairy and dairy alternatives Bega cheese Unknown Australian company, tasty, labelling – eye catching; Bulla ice cream Unknown Cookies and cream ice cream, creamy classic Farmland (Coles) Thickened Cream Unknown Tick logo and Australian made logo Home Brand Skim Milk Powder Unknown Product of , Refund if not satisfied, Woolworths quality assured IRC Coffee milk Unknown Kraft Spread Unknown Chive and Onion Philadelphia spread, 80% less fat, light; Mainland Tasty Cheddar Cheese Unknown Green Packaging, ‘Tasty’, aged 12 months; Olive Grove Unknown classic spread, Heart Foundation approved, cholesterol free, olive oil; Pauls cream No On special – best buy Ski D’Lite yoghurt Unknown
Sunraysia Prune Plus Juice, 250mL Kraft Singles Cheese Slices, 250g Vitasoy Soy Drink, 1L McKenzies Table Salt, 95g Saxa Iodised Table Salt, 125g Burgen bread, 700g Simple Apricot & Coconut Muesli, 500g Kellogg’s Special K, 600g Mizone Water, Passionfruit, 750ml Charlie’s Fruit Juice, Pure Pineapple, 1L Tasti Nut Bar, White Choc & Macadamia, 225g Nice & Natural Nut Bars, 192g Yoplait Yoghurt, Kiwi Favourites, 6pk Flora spread, 500g Home Brand Table Salt, 500g Mrs Rogers Iodised Rock Salt, 500g Burgen bread, 700g Kellogg’s Allbran, 350g Kellogg’s Sultana Bran, 500g G Force Pineapple and Mango, 650ml Charlie’s Fruit Juice, Pure Pineapple, 1L Yoplait Yoghurt, Kiwi Favourites, 6pk Meadow Fresh Yoghurt, Deliteful Strawberry, 6pk Home Brand Table Salt, 500g Mrs Rogers Iodised Rock Salt, 500g