Voluntary targets set for 2018 applied to 23 food categories, renewed in 2019
No targets
No targets
None
Mandatory Executive Decree No. 36910-MEP-S. passed in 2012, implements restrictions on advertising in schools
None
“Update on specific taxes on packaged non-alcoholic beverages, excluding milk, and on toilet soaps”, passed in 2019, implements a tax on non-alcoholic packaged beverages with varying rates depending on the product.
| Nutrient types | Sodium |
| Products sampled | 1158 (2015) and 1016 (2018) |
Data on packaged foods sold in Costa Rica in 2015 and 2018 was collected by researchers through systematic food label data gathering at major supermarket chains. In 2015, data collection was conducted using a smartphone application developed by the George Institute for Global Health, while in 2018, the FLIP-LAC system was employed. Researchers scanned the barcodes of packaged food products, excluding alcoholic beverages, and photographed all sides of the packaging to capture key information, including product name, brand, ingredient list, serving size, and nutritional information per 100g or 100mL. Only medium-sized packages were included in the analysis, with additional data sourced from INCAP nutrient databases when required. Sodium content data (mg/100g) for each food category and subcategory was analyzed for mean, median, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum levels, with results compared to Costa Rica’s national sodium reduction targets.
For more information on the study methodology, please see the data source below.
Citation: Vega-Solano J, Blanco-Metzler A, Benavides-Aguilar KF, Arcand J. An Evaluation of the Sodium Content and Compliance with the National Sodium Reduction Targets among Packaged Foods Sold in Costa Rica in 2015 and 2018. Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2226. Published 2019 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/nu11092226
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Costa Rican Institute of Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA)
