Which of the following foods is a good source of iodine?

• A. Seafood and dairy
• B. Fruits and grains
• C. Rice and pasta
• D. Red meats and eggs

Answer: (A)

Iodine in the diet is essential for thyroid hormone production, so foods that reliably supply iodine are especially important. Seafood and dairy stand out because iodine is naturally abundant in seawater and marine life, and dairy products commonly end up with iodine through animal feed and processing practices. This makes seafood and dairy consistent, dependable sources of iodine across many diets.

Fruits and grains, by contrast, vary a lot in iodine content because it depends on the iodine level in the soil where they’re grown, which is often low. Rice and pasta don’t inherently provide much iodine unless they’re fortified or consumed with iodine-containing seasonings or salt. Red meats and eggs do contain some iodine, but not as consistently or in as high amounts as seafood and dairy, so they’re not as reliable a primary source.

So, seafood and dairy are the best natural sources among the listed options for iodine.