Potassium iodate is sometimes used for iodination of table salt to prevent
iodine deficiency. In the US,
iodized salt contains
antioxidants, because
atmospheric oxygen can oxidize
wet iodide to iodine; other countries simply use potassium iodate instead. Salt mixed with
ferrous fumarate and potassium iodate, "double fortified salt", are used to address both iron and iodine deficiencies. Potassium iodate is also used to provide iodine in some
baby formula. Like
potassium bromate, potassium iodate is occasionally used as a
maturing agent in baking.
Radiation protection tablets distributed in the early 2000s to
Irish households in case of a terror attack on
British nuclear facilities. Potassium iodate may be used to protect against accumulation of
radioactive iodine in the
thyroid by saturating the body with a stable source of
iodine prior to exposure. Approved by the
World Health Organization for radiation protection, potassium iodate (KIO3) is an alternative to
potassium iodide (KI), which has poor
shelf life in hot and humid
climates. The
UK,
Singapore,
United Arab Emirates, and the
U.S. states
Idaho and
Utah all maintain potassium iodate
tablets towards this end. Following the
September 11 attacks, the government of
Ireland issued potassium iodate tablets to all households for a similar purpose. Potassium iodate is not approved by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a
thyroid blocker, and the FDA has taken action against US websites that promote this use. ==Safety==