Costa Rica

Costa Rica
© 2000-2004 PFPC

   In Costa Rica, all salt has been fluoridated since 1987. The program was supported by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

Costa Ricans had an average intake of 10g of salt per person per day.

“Salt companies had a special role in this process of improving Costa Ricans oral health status, by taking upon all the additional costs in the set up of labs, in the hiring of personnel and in the improvement in the process and quality of salt production.” (Salas, 1994)

Originally starting with potassium fluoride, sodium fluoride is now being used.

Background Papers

Salas MT - Fluoridated Salt
Dr. Mary Tere Salas, Coordinator of the Investigation Area of the Salt Fluoridation Program of Costa Rica
CEDROS Newsletter · Year III · N.5 · 1994

WHO DATA

ALCOA:

“ALCOA has a long history of relations with Costa Rica.
In 1971, ALCOA began operation for the production and export of bauxite ore in the southeastern zone of San Isidro del General. ALCOA received a 20-year contract to mine bauxite from a multi-thousand acre ore reserve area. President Jose Figueres negotiated a deal with the World Bani, ALCOA, and the Soviet Union (also in 1971) for $400 million for an aluminum refinery and hydroelectric generating plant in the  northwestern province of Guanacaste. Power from the dam was to be transmitted to the ALCOA mining site. In exchange for purchasing Costa Rica's excess coffee, Soviet Union hydroelectric generating equipment was to be purchased for the 500,000-kw dam. Wide-spread public opposition to Soviet involvement eventually stopped the negotiations. ALCOA also quit its bauxite project due to poor ore quality.” [SOURCE: Tamara Broadhead, COSAMCO, Ltd.,March 2, 1981]