ABSTRACT
In 2016, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) approved a project for scaling a salt reduction approach in Latin America that involved industry, government, non-governmental organisations, and consumers. Entitled Scaling up and Evaluating Salt Reduction Policies and Programmes in Latin America, the project is led by a coordinating institution in Costa Rica and two collaborating Canadian universities. Latin America and the Caribbean exhibit some of the world’s highest blood pressure rates. In 2016, IDRC approved funding for a project to scale existing salt reduction approaches and develop a new salt reduction programme in Latin America. The salt reduction project, like other non-communicable disease prevention work, relies on established research in epidemiology as the basis and motivation for policy intervention. “Acceptable” levels of salt consumption and sources of dietary salt may differ based on local factors. Policy interventions can be tailored to address local needs, contexts, and consumption trends.
