Government spokesperson: To counter the malnutrition issues caused by insufficient iodine in people’s dietary intake, we plan to provide subsidies for salt manufacturers who opt to manufacture iodized salt, which will replace regular salt. Since many salt manufacturers have already signed up to produce iodized salt under the program, there will be a significant decline in health problems caused by the consumption of non-iodized salt in a few years.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the spokesperson’s conclusion?
A. Some salt manufacturers are concerned that consumers will prefer regular salt to iodized salt.
B. Both freshwater and saltwater fish, which form a significant part of the staple diet of people in the country, are rich in iodine content.
C. Many physicians believe that direct iodine supplements are the only way to combat the iodine deficiency in the country.
D. Apart from iodine, other nutritional minerals that are essential for good health are found in equal amounts in regular salt as well as iodized salt.
E. Most companies are increasing the selling price of salt to compensate for the cost of the iodine added to the salt.