Links Grantees /
Costa Rican Institute of Research and Teaching in Health and Nutrition (INCIENSA)
Reducing salt in Costa Rica – an evidence-based approach
Status: 
Ongoing
INCIENSA is a public institution under the Costa Rican Ministry of Health that develops epidemiological surveillance systems, researches public health problems, and carries out public health education and communication. INCIENSA is a member of the WHO/PAHO Regional Expert Group on dietary salt reduction, which develops policy statements, work protocols, guides, and other salt reduction tools for use in the Americas. In Costa Rica, INCIENSA contributed to the national plan for sodium reduction adopted in 2011.
With LINKS support, INCIENSA will measure salt consumption in Costa Rica, research the food services industry’s ideas and practices around salt, and adapt a regional social marketing plan on the risks of too much salt for use at the national level.
Costa Rica has committed to reducing sodium intake by 15% by 2021.
“In Costa Rica, 36% of people over 20 years of age have high blood pressure. These funds will allow Costa Rica to continue to make progress in salt/sodium reduction and serve as a model and source of information in the region and in the world.”
Adriana Blanco-Metzler, INCIENSA researcher
Read the full press release
Publications:
