The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) continues to support regional strategies for noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention, including sodium reduction initiatives, through collaboration with regional Ministries of Health, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other regional stakeholders. The Agency provides technical guidance on food labelling, public education campaigns, and surveillance of NCD risk factors, while also engaging in advocacy and research to support evidence-based interventions.

CARPHA introduced the Six-Point Policy Package (6-PPP), a regional framework designed to promote healthier food environments and improve food security in addressing childhood obesity and NCDs. One of the six policy recommendations includes establishing regional standards and time-bound salt reduction targets for specific food product categories. Building on this, CARPHA developed the CESA Regional Sodium Reduction Framework in 2020 to guide national sodium reduction strategies. The framework is built on four pillars using the acronym ‘CESA’: Change the food environment through policies and legislation; Educate the population; Strengthen systems capacity through research, monitoring, and evaluation; and Assess progress.

The Framework envisions a healthier Caribbean population where average salt intake falls below the global target of less than 1 teaspoon or 5 grams per day for adults and even less for children. Supporting this effort, CARPHA also developed Kids Can Cook Too, a recipe book featuring nutritious recipes with little or no added salt, fat, and sugar to encourage healthier eating habits from an early age.