Potassium iodate comes from iodic acid and is its salt.

It is used in the food industry and, in some areas where the "goiter" disease is still present, is supplied as an iodine supplement.

Potassium iodate acts as an additive in salt and can slow the growth of bacteria. Against the growth of Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for various infections in the human body, it has shown excellent inhibitory effects through protein synthesis and the respiratory chain (1).

As for its use in salt, it acts as a protection against temperature and humidity (2).

It is also a blocking agent of thyroid dysfunctions in experiments on laboratory animals (3).

References____________________________

(1) Study on the influence of potassium iodate on the metabolism of Escherichia coli by intrinsic fluorescence.
Wang H, Wang J, Xu J, Cai RX.
Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2006 May
(2) Stability of salt double-fortified with ferrous fumarate and potassium iodate or iodide under storage and distribution conditions in Kenya.
Oshinowo T, Diosady L, Yusufali R, Laleye L.
Food Nutr Bull. 2004 Sep
(3) Potassium iodate and its comparison to potassium iodide as a blocker of 131I uptake by the thyroid in rats.

Pahuja DN, Rajan MG, Borkar AV, Samuel AM.

Health Phys. 1993 Nov