Reducing salt consumption and its negative impacts in the Republic of Moldova: EVIPNet evidence brief for policy, number 9

ABSTRACT

High salt intake is one of the main dietary risk factors for death and disability-adjusted life years globally, and one of the main risk factors for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, stomach cancer and renal disease. Reducing salt consumption and improving dietary habits requires comprehensive policies targeting multiple sectors of the food system and active collaboration among of a variety of stakeholders. The Ministry of Health, along with “Nicolae Testemitanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova developed this EBP, supported by technical experts from WHO Regional Office for Europe, to be published under the guidance of the WHO European Evidence-informed Policy Network, to make available evidence-informed options for policy-makers to tackle the problem of reducing salt consumption in the Republic of Moldova. A working group convened by the Ministry of Health identified, selected, appraised and synthesized best available evidence on the problem; formulated the options for tackling it; and weighed up considerations in implementing each option. The seven options grouped across two approaches are Approach 1 Structural population-level interventions, including (1.1) Food product reformulation; (1.2) Food labelling; (1.3) Food procurement policy in specific settings; (1.4) Restrictions on marketing to children; (1.5) Pricing interventions; and Approach 2 Population-level behaviour change interventions, including (2.1) Health education; and (2.2) Information campaigns.