A little dab'll do.

Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference. For instance, kids all around the world could avoid sickness, mental retardation, and thyroid gland disorders if they just had access to a tiny bit of iodine (EYE-uh-dine).

Iodine is a micronutrient (my-kro-NU-tree-unt), something the body needs, but only in very tiny amounts. Just a teaspoon of iodine is enough to last a lifetime.

Iodine occurs naturally in some foods, but only if it is present in the soil or water where the food is grown. In certain regions of the United States, the soil does not provide enough iodine.

Before 1930, many American kids weren't getting the iodine they needed. Children suffered iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) like stunted development and physical disabilities.

But then the Morton Salt Company began putting iodine in table salt. Using this iodized (EYE-uh-dized) salt meant people living in the U.S. got enough iodine. Today, IDD is rare in the United States.

The Problem of IDD Around the World

But there are still many places around the world where people do not have a regular source of iodine in their diets. IDD remains a terrible problem for these people.

Morton Salt and a service club called Kiwanis International are working hard to prevent IDD by making sure that people all over the world have a dependable source of iodized salt. Their goal is to wipe out IDD by the year 2000.

"The solution to iodine deficiency disorders is simple and effective," says Kiwanis International President Gerald Christiano, of Leicester, New York. "By adding a trace of iodine to salt, entire populations can be protected from IDD. But, while the solution is simple, it's an enormous and complicated job because so many people in so many countries need this protection."

You Can Help,Too

You can pitch in with Kiwanis to raise money to make iodized salt available everywhere. Call your local Kiwanis International club and ask how you or your class can participate in current fund-raising efforts.

Remember, even a little bit of help makes a big difference. Through the efforts of charitable groups like Kiwanis, concerned companies like Morton Salt, and the generosity of ordinary people, IDD and the suffering it causes around the world can be ended.