Participating institutions

Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO)

University of Toronto, USA

Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP)

CIIPEC Researchers

Manuel Ramírez-Zea

Fernanda Kroker-Lobos

Paola Arévalo. 

Summary 

HIgh salted diets area a major cause of high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for death, and account for close to two-thirds of strokes and one-half of heart desease incidents worlwide. As part of the project "Scaling and evaluating reduction policies and programs in Latin America", PAHO aims to strengthen and expand existing salt reduction programs in Latin American countries. With Panama´s involvement we aim to assess sodium and trans fats content in a variety of packaged products, in order to communicate main results. A team of trained researchers will collect photographic data and its data entry, using a specialized software (FLIP app and website). After validation of the data, descriptive analysis would be carried out on sodium and trans fats content by food categories, as well as additional analyisis on nutrient profiling. Finally, a report will be made in order to conduct an incidence plan that could help increase consumers awareness in the region and provide the basis for a broader application to healthy diets to help reduce non-communicable diseases in Latin America. 

Objectives

Collect, validate and analyse, using standarized protocols, the levels of critical nutrients (specifically sodium and trans fats) in a variety of selected packaged products available in supermarkets in Panama.

Methodology 

Financing 

Project duration

Support information

1. Data collection, after receiving training on the use of FLIP app and website, we will perform a brief pilot with one or two prioritized food categories in order to validate all procedures in field: scan, data entry and validation of data. Using the FLIP app, trained research assitants wll collect photographs of packaged products labels for as many products as possible, prioritizing PAHO food categories. They will also entry the necessary information to monitor sodium levels and trans fat (serving size, calorie, sodium and trans fat content). Junior investigators wll then validate the data using the FLIP website, provide necessary feedback and carry out data quality assurance (outliers and errors). Outliers and error wll be corrected during the field work.

2. Analysis and report, Junior and senior investigators will generate a master dataset with the nutrient content of validates packaged products. With special focus on the content of sodium and trans fats, we will provide outputs and tables containing descriptive analyisis by food categories. Also, it will include descriptive analysis on nutrient profiling of food products according to PAHO guidelines (at country level) and comparisons with salt reductions regional targets. A report will be deliverable to PAHO.

3. Incidence, an expert on incidence will conduct an incidence plan for different stakeholders in order to communicate main results. During this phase we also proposed developing a policy brief with the most important results and messages  that will serve as advocacy tool  for the country. 

Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO). Flip study of project IDRC 108167. 

March 2022-August 2022

http://flip.canadafoodtracker.com/resources/FLIP%20PAHO%20User%20Guide%20Spanish.pdf