The EUthyroid2 kick-off meeting was held on 27-29th March 2023 in Krakow, Poland. All consortium members presented their organisations and roles in the project. This two-day meeting offered an overview of the work packages and an outline of detailed plans.
The representatives of the project partner institutions met with other consortium members to align on the next steps for increasing awareness of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and related risks among adolescents and young women in Europe and beyond.
The project builds on EUthyroid and the Krakow Declaration on iodine and will establish best practice models for cost-effective, sustainable prevention of IDD across EU member states.
Professor Henry Völzke (University Medicine Greifswald), the scientific coordinator of the EUthyroid2 project, identified the project aims. All work package leaders outline their road map for the activities of the first year of the project to the consortium.
The project participants and partners are committed to taking important steps toward the elimination of iodine deficiency and preventable iodine-related disorders in Europe and beyond.

The Second Annual Meeting of the EUthyroid2 project was held on the 9th of October, 2024, in Baveno, Italy. The meeting offered an excellent opportunity for the work packages to present the progress achieved and give an outline of tasks ahead.

The Advisory Board Members participated in the meeting online: Prof. Dr. Heather Foran, the Coordinator of EUthyroid2 sister project, FLOURISH Study, Prof. Christa Meisinger, MD, MPH, Epidemiologist, University of Augsburg, and Prof. Dr. Leonidas Duntas, Endocrinologist, Evgenidion Hospital, University of Athens, offered valuable insights and advice to the consortium.

The day began with an inspiring session by Prof. Henry Völzke, Coordinator of the EUthyroid2 project, who gave an overview of the broader aims for the upcoming year. The meeting progressed with presentations on the study implementation in the ambulatory care and educational settings by Vivien Henck, University Medicine Greifswald, Theresa Heering, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Signe Skovgaard Hansen, Technical University of Denmark, and Synnøve Næss Sleire, Institute of Marine Research.

Christoph Schickhardt, Ethics Advisor, discussed the question of ethical challenges in the intervention, while Phil Pendt, University Medicine Greifswald summarised the structure of the intervention materials.

Anna Bokor, TFI, gave an overview of the communication and dissemination activities and study materials in different languages.

Through educational and ambulatory care interventions, EUthyroid2 aims to increase awareness among adolescents and young people about the risks of iodine deficiency and the importance of iodine for their health and that of their future offspring.

The project participants and partners are committed to taking important steps toward the elimination of iodine deficiency and preventable iodine-related disorders in Europe and beyond.

EUthyroid2 took part in the Iodine Coalition Europe Face to Face Stakeholder Meeting, in Brussels, Belgium, on February 27 to discuss the next steps in the fight against iodine deficiency in Europe. The EUthyroid2 Consortium is a member of the Iodine Coalition Europe, along with iodine nutrition experts, representatives of the salt, food, and iodine industries, experts in research and endocrinology, and organisations with a global reach (EUsalt, Thyroid Federation International, World Iodine Association, Iodine Global Network, Unilever, and Culinaria Europe).

Anna Bokor, Communications Director, TFI, partner of EUthyroid2, gave an overview of the Communications Plan for the Coalition. She highlighted that there is low awareness of iodine-related health risks in children and adolescents among policymakers and the public. The first Horizon Europe-funded EUthyroid project suggested that up to 50% of newborns in the region are at risk of iodine deficiency and do not reach their full cognitive potential due to insufficient iodine intake. This represents a major but preventable public health issue. Despite the risks of iodine deficiency, most European countries lack dedicated policies to prevent iodine deficiency disorders, and no harmonised framework exists across the European Union (EU).

Food fortification is an effective strategy for combating iodine deficiency. To ensure that all European citizens have adequate iodine intake, there is a need to harmonise national policies to facilitate access to iodised salt and processed food fortified with iodine.

The partners of the Coalition are committed to working together and taking important steps to ensure that all Europeans have access to iodine.

Policymakers, nutrition experts, food and salt industry representatives, and patient organisations met at the European Parliament for a high-level breakfast event in Brussels on March 25 to discuss the problem of iodine deficiency in Europe.

Hosted by MEP Stefan Köhler and organised by the Iodine Coalition Europe, the session highlighted the need for harmonised policies to ensure that all Europeans have access to iodine.

Several partners of the EUthyroid2 project took part in the session: Dr. Sarah Bath, Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition, University of Surrey, Linda Henderson and Anna Bokor, Thyroid Federation International, Joyce Greene, Iodine Global Network, and Attilio Caligiani, World Iodine Association.

Throughout the discussion, the speakers Joyce Greene, Dr. Sarah Bath, Michael Durst (Unilever), and Dr. Urs Hofmeier (EUsalt) reinforced the importance of promoting the sustainable prevention of iodine deficiency in Europe.

A Joint Statement on tackling iodine deficiency was presented at the event, in which the partners of the Iodine Coalition Europe call on EU policymakers to support regulatory alignment, simplify labelling, and ensure that iodised salt is widely available to protect public health.

Prof. Helena Filipsson Nyström, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and her research team, hosted the Nordic Iodine Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 11-12, 2025. The congress brought together renowned experts from various fields, including nutritionists, endocrinologists, and researchers from a broad range of educational institutions and countries. Along with the presentation of the EUthyroid2 research project, several insights, data, and research on iodine and iodine status were presented. During two intense days of networking, sharing experiences, participants worked to brainstorm effective strategies for the prevention of iodine deficiency in the region.

Monitoring of iodine programs is important:

In Sweden, for example, the food industry does not always use salt with iodine; therefore, the iodine level in processed food may vary. New trends in food consumption are emerging: the use of non-iodised salt and flaky sea salt has become popular in Europe, including Sweden.

Mild iodine deficiency, on the societal level, is important. Insufficient iodine intake can lead to a reduction in a child's IQ, hindering children's learning ability, school performance, and later resulting in less productivity in adulthood. Maintaining adequate iodine levels contributes to a sustainable society.

This conference is a wonderful example of collaboration and cooperation among partners to take steps towards the control and prevention of iodine deficiency in Europe. A big thank you for the impactful conference to our EUthyroid2 partner, Prof. Helena Filipsson Nyström!

Two partners of EUthyroid2, Lisbeth Dahl, Nutritionist and Senior Scientist at the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway, and Gitte Ravn-Haren, Senior Researcher in the research group for risk-benefit at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, presented the EUthyroid2 interventions and initial results at the Nordic Iodine Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 11-12, 2025.

This year, Sweden hosted the Nordic Iodine Conference, and Helena Filipsson Nyström, Professor at Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, along with her research team, welcomed researchers, nutritionists, and experts in the field to Gothenburg to give an overview of iodine statuses and research projects for each participating country.

At the conference, EUthyroid2 partners gave an overview of the problem of iodine deficiency in Europe, EUthyroid2 project interventions, and the mission of EUthyroid2 to improve awareness of iodine nutrition among children, adolescents, and young women across the study regions. They outlined the future strategies for preventing iodine deficiency and worked to strengthen collaboration among Nordic countries.

A big thank you to Lisbeth Dahl and Gitte Ravn-Haren for presenting the EUthyroid2 research and for their tremendous work to deliver successful interventions within the project!

The EUthyroid2 Consortium is a member of the Iodine Coalition Europe, a partnership dedicated to ensuring adequate iodine nutrition. Our joint goal is to tackle​ iodine deficiency in Europe. The Coalition works to support the work of both the initial EUthyroid and the current EUthyroid2 health research projects to be translated into awareness raising and action.

Partners of the EUthyroid2 project: World Iodine Association, and Thyroid Federation International collaborated to develop the website of the Coalition:

https://www.iodinecoalitioneurope.org/

This dedicated website serves as a central hub for information on the mission and important milestones of the Coalition. It will be updated regularly to showcase key events and activities.

Along with members EUsalt, World Iodine Association, Thyroid Federation International, Iodine Global Network, Culinaria Europe e.V., Unilever, EUthyroid2 works to address, prevent, and control the ongoing and widespread problem of iodine deficiency. We aim to promote salt iodisation, including the use of iodised salt in processed foods, and address the obstacles hindering its full implementation. By working together, we can ensure that all Europeans have access to iodine.

Our focus is on creating awareness among consumers on the importance of iodine, among officials to encourage policy changes, and among FBOs so they are ready to provide products with iodised salt. Similarly, we work to address consumer concerns regarding iodised salt ingredient labelling to provide an incentive for FBO to use iodised salt in more products available on the market. Furthermore, we aim to support the European framework and work to remove barriers to trade in the internal market created by national legislations.

The high-level breakfast session to take steps against iodine deficiency, at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Stefan Köhler and organised by the Iodine Coalition Europe, in Brussels, on March 25, marked the presentation of the Joint Statement on tackling iodine deficiency.

In this Joint Statement, EUthyroid2 and other members of the Iodine Coalition Europe call on EU policymakers to support regulatory alignment, simplify labelling, and ensure that iodised salt is widely available to protect public health.

The first EUthyroid project (2016–2018) revealed alarming findings: up to 50% of newborns in Europe are at risk of iodine deficiency and do not reach their full cognitive potential due to insufficient iodine intake. This represents a major but preventable public health issue. Despite these risks, most European countries lack dedicated policies to prevent iodine deficiency disorders, and no harmonised framework exists across the European Union (EU).

In 2023, EUthyroid2 was launched to build on the first EUthyroid initiative, aiming to improve iodine knowledge and intake, particularly among children, adolescents, and young women. The WHO-IGN 2024 report later confirmed that changes in diet and lifestyle are threatening a re-emergence of the problem in parts of Europe, with pregnant women being especially vulnerable.

To address this, the Iodine Coalition Europe (ICE) was established in 2025 to promote the use of iodised salt in processed foods and advance iodine nutrition initiatives.

A call for coordinated action

Food fortification has proven to be an effective strategy for combating iodine deficiency. However, inconsistent national policies across the EU are undermining these efforts. To ensure that all European citizens have adequate iodine intake, a harmonised approach is needed.

Within the Joint Statement, EUthyroid2, along with members of the Iodine Coalition Europe, call for urgent action from the European Commission and national governments to:

- recognise the essential role of iodine in human nutrition and health

- recognise iodine deficiency as a public health priority in Europe

- review national policies on salt iodisation to remove intra-community trade barriers and provide legal certainty for commercial operators

- simplify labelling to encourage the use of iodised salt in food production

- monitor dietary iodine intake at the national level across Europe

Read the whole JOINT STATEMENT, A collective call to action on tackling iodine deficiency in Europe:

https://www.iodinecoalitioneurope.org/text-joint-statement

EUthyroid2 is a proud member of the Iodine Coalition Europe along with iodine nutrition experts, representatives of the salt, food, and iodine industries, research and patient organisations (EUsalt, World Iodine Association, Thyroid Federation International, Iodine Global Network, Culinaria Europe e.V., Unilever).

On September 9, 2025, partners of the Coalition: World Iodine Association and Thyroid Federation International launched a LinkedIn account for Iodine Coalition Europe and will publish regular posts on news and activities.

Iodine deficiency is a serious public health concern in Europe as up to half of the region's newborns are at risk of iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency can lead to various health issues, including impaired cognitive development in children, goitre, and thyroid disorders. While the health of all population groups can be affected, pregnant women and children are especially at risk. ​

Insufficient iodine intake during pregnancy can lead to lasting brain damage that reduces a child's IQ, hindering children's learning ability and school performance. Even a mild deficiency has implications in terms of health costs. Adding tiny amounts of iodine to salt can address the problem. Consuming iodised salt is the simplest method to ensure sufficient iodine intake. 

Follow Iodine Coalition Europe on LinkedIn and find out more about the importance of iodine nutrition, our activities, and our mission to ensure that all Europeans have access to this essential micronutrient!

In an interview in the journal "Deutsche Hebammenzeitschrift", September 2025, Prof. Dr. Henry Völzke, EUthyroid2 Project Coordinator, University Medical Center Greifswald, Head of Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), and Chairman of the NAKO Research Network. highlighted that pregnant and breastfeeding women need to ensure adequate iodine levels; otherwise, there is a risk that their thyroid function will be impaired, their metabolism will be reduced, and their child's brain will not develop sufficiently.

In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has been sensitive to the iodine deficiency issue for years. In 2023, it launched an awareness campaign financed with public funds. The campaign provided information about iodine deficiency during pregnancy. The ministry also advocated for an increase in the amount of iodine added to table salt to 30 ppm (30 µg iodine per gram of salt). Unfortunately, the latter could not be implemented yet, it is not known whether there will be a new legislative initiative.

Despite these efforts, iodine levels continue to decline in Germany mainly due to the widespread consumption of ready-made meals; these are usually produced without iodised table salt.

The first EUthyroid consortium's evaluation of iodine deficiency in Europe uncovered major limitations in awareness of the importance of iodine nutrition. The current project, EUthyroid2, is a four-year health research project that aims to develop best-practice models to inform children, adolescents, and young women, increase their knowledge, and improve their iodine status in order to lay the foundation for their own thyroid and general health, and that of their offspring.

Implementation studies and community-based randomised-controlled intervention trials are underway in educational and ambulatory-care settings in eight study regions.

Partners at EUthyroid2 work tirelessly for our interventions in both settings to be successful; thus, the cost-effectiveness of EUthyroid2 will be significant. The critical point to reach long-term sustainability is to convince policymakers to take their responsibility for iodine fortification and information campaigns.

With our interventions focusing on educating children, adolescents, and young people on the importance of iodine nutrition, we expect that they will rapidly benefit from an improved iodine status.

You can read the whole interview:

https://staudeverlag.de/jodstatus-mangelhaft/

Dr. Henry Völzke, Coordinator of the EUthyroid2 project, partner of the Iodine Coalition Europe, along with other members of the Coalition, met with the Cabinet ​of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, ​represented by Mr. Flavio Facioni, in Brussels, on 18 September 2025, to discuss the problem of iodine deficiency in Europe, the mission of the Coalition, and the need to take steps and fight against iodine deficiency in the region.

The participating members of the Coalition presented:

• the problem of iodine deficiency in the European region
• the major findings of the WHO/IGN report
• the recommendations of the WHO/IGN report: ensuring sustainability of salt iodisation, recognizing the importance of dairy products for adequate iodine intake, and monitoring iodine status
• the aims of the Euthyroid2 health research project: to improve awareness with respect to IDD in adolescents and young women​ and find best practice models for accessing them​
• the Coalition’s support for the work of both EUthyroid 1 and 2 to be translated into awareness raising and action

It has been highlighted that policymakers need to create an environment that facilitates the dissemination of these tools and encourages the use of iodised salt in processed foods through harmonised policies, clear labelling, and regulatory alignment.

The time to act is now, for the future health of European citizens, and for the future competitiveness of the EU and its Member States.

In the picture, from left to right: Michael Durst, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Foods, Unilever Dr. Rodrigo Moreno-Reyes, Regional Coordinator, Western and Central Europe, Iodine Global Network Attilio Caligiani, Director General, World Iodine Association Marian Brestovansky, Director, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, EUsalt Joyce Greene, Senior Advisor, Global Advocacy, Iodine Global Network Dr. Henry Völzke, Universität Greifswald, Germany, Scientific Coordinator of the EUthyroid2 project

As we are approaching World Iodine Deficiency Prevention Day, October 21, we want to highlight the mission of the EUthyroid2 research project to take steps to tackle iodine deficiency in Europe and beyond with our campaign on social media platforms: ’Iodine, the missing piece’.

Throughout our interventions in the secondary schools and ambulatory care units, we inform adolescents and young women about the importance of iodine nutrition, increase their knowledge, and improve their iodine status.

Within these educational sessions, adolescents and young women are educated about the importance of iodine for health, the consequences of iodine deficiency, recommendations for daily iodine intake, dietary iodine sources, importance of healthy nutrition during pregnancy for the baby’s health, including iodine, and specific iodine intake recommendations during pregnancy.

The worldwide campaign for Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) was a major public health success that significantly improved the situation and is still the major solution recommended by the World Health Assembly. Yet, not all countries adopted USI, and in addition, progress is slipping due to competing priorities and global events.

Apart from the work to raise awareness among young people, EUthyroid2 is committed to increasing awareness about the problem of iodine deficiency among policymakers.

EUthyroid2 is a member of the Iodine Coalition Europe, a partnership dedicated to ensuring adequate iodine nutrition. Together with iodine nutrition experts, representatives of the salt, food, and iodine industries, research, and patient organisations (EUsalt, World Iodine Association, Thyroid Federation International, Iodine Global Network, EUthyroid2, Culinaria Europe e.V., Unilever), we work to create awareness among consumers on the importance of iodine, and among officials to encourage policy changes, and to support the European framework and work to remove barriers to trade in the internal market created by national legislation.

Stronger EU-wide regulations and monitoring mechanisms are essential to protect public health and ensure that future generations do not suffer the consequences of preventable iodine deficiency.

The time to act is now.