Goal

By 2030, controls will be tightened over unhealthy food available in student catering in the public education system.

FROM Commitment: Healthy Food Systems

Government / Costa Rica

Ministerio de Salud

Partner organisations:
Civil society organisation (CSO) or non-governmental organisation (NGO): Fundación Costarricense de Gastronomía (FUCOGA)
Academic or non-academic research institution: Escuela de Nutrición de la Universidad de Costa Rica
Country government at any administrative level: Ministerio de Salud y Drección de CEN-CINAI, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social
Date made: 02 Dec 2021
Related event: 2021 Tokyo N4G Summit | 2021 UN Food Systems Summit
Verification status Verified Find out more
NAF SMARTness index High Find out more
Targeted location National - Todo el territorio nacional
Targeted population Specific population group(s)
Targeted population age Specific age group(s)
Targeted population specific age Students from 7 to 18 years of age
Targeted population sex All
Population coverage 39,434.0
Primary indicator Percentage of student catering outlets which comply with the guidelines, out of the total number of catering services in schools
Primary indicator baseline 0
Primary indicator target 100%
Duration January, 2022 - December, 2030

Goal action plan

Since 2012, an executive decree has been in place to regulate the operation and administration of the catering services in educational institutions, No. 36910-MEP-S. This decree aims to promote health and healthy eating habits in public schools. It prohibits the sale of high-energy, high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt/sodium products in student stores or kiosks. It also prohibits the advertising of these foods in educational institutions. The decree was signed off by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Health is responsible for enforcing the decree, with the support of Ministry of Education staff. However, the Ministry of Health has been unable to carry out the necessary monitoring of student catering services and stores, so the Ministry of Health has committed to implementing a more targeted strategy by 2021 in order to comply with the mandate of these regulations. The proper enforcement of this decree should mean that students will not have access to products high in energy, fat, sugar and salt and will have access to more healthy products such as fruits and vegetables. This will help prevent obesity in the student population.

Nutrition Action Classification

Enabling

  • Financial
  • Operational
  • Leadership and governance
  • Research monitoring and data

Policy

  • Food environment
  • Food supply chain
  • Consumer knowledge
  • Nutrition care services

Impact

  • Undernutrition
  • Diet
  • Obesity and diet-related NCDs
  • Food and nutrition security

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