As a measure to combat childhood obesity and unhealthy eating habits, Mexico bans junk food in schools.
According to the Government’s determination, schools can no longer sell processed, salty, and sweet products starting from Saturday.
Authorities aim to address what they described as one of the worst “epidemics of obesity and diabetes” in the world.
Mexico bans junk food in schools: what the measure says
The health guidelines, first published last fall, directly target processed salty and sweet products. They defined these as a staple for generations of Mexican students.
Mexico’s measure to improve nutrition. (Photo: Freepik).[/caption>
This applies to sugary fruit drinks, packaged potato chips, artificial pork rinds, and chili-flavored soy-wrapped peanuts, as listed by the AP agency.
Announcing that the ban had become law, the Secretariat of Education celebrated X. “Goodbye junk food!” they wrote. And encouraged parents to support this government decision to prepare healthy meals for their children.
This is part of Mexico’s ambitious attempt to reform its food culture and reprogram the next generation of consumers.
In line with the international impact of these changes, in the United States, for example, Health Secretary of Donald Trump’s government, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., promised to transform the country’s food system and “Make America Healthy Again”.
That’s why they propose focusing on ultra-processed foods to curb the rise in obesity and diseases.
What schools must do
Under Mexico’s new order, schools must gradually eliminate any food and drink that displays even a single black warning logo marking it as high in salt, sugar, calories, and fat. Mexico implemented that mandatory front-of-pack labeling system in 2020.
Implemented starting this Monday morning, the beginning of the school week, the junk food ban also requires schools to serve healthier alternatives to junk food, such as bean tacos, and offer plain drinking water.
School administrators who do not comply with the order face fines ranging from $545 to $5450.
Mexico’s food health numbers
Children in Mexico consume more junk food than anywhere else in Latin America, according to UNICEF, which classifies the country’s childhood obesity epidemic as an emergency.
Aiming to improve food quality.
Sugary drinks and highly processed foods account for 40% of the total calories children consume in a day, the agency reports.
One third of Mexican children are already considered overweight or obese, according to government statistics.
However, implementing the law poses a challenge. Previous bans on junk food had difficulties gaining traction and oversight was very lax in Mexico’s 255,000 schools.
Many even lack reliable sources of water, internet, and electricity.
It was also not immediately clear how they will handle the sale of junk food on the streets outside of school campuses, where street vendors often sell candies, chips, nachos, and ice cream to children during recess and after the school day ends.
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