A government-sponsored junk food ban in schools across Mexico took effect on Saturday, officials said, as the country tries to tackle one of the world\u2019s worst obesity and diabetes epidemics.
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\nThe health guidelines, first published last fall, take a direct shot at salty and sweet processed products that have become a staple for generations of Mexican schoolchildren, such as sugary fruit drinks, packaged chips, artificial pork rinds and soy-encased, chili-flavored peanuts.<\/p>\n
Announcing that the ban had become law, Mexico’s Education Ministry posted on X: \u201cFarewell, junk food!\u201d It encouraged parents to support the government’s crusade by cooking healthy meals for their kids.
\n\u201cOne of the core principles of the new Mexican school system is healthy living," said Mario Delgado, the public health secretary. \u201cThere’s a high level of acceptance of this policy among parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mexico’s ambitious attempt to remake its food culture and reprogram the next generation of consumers is being watched closely around the world as governments struggle to turn the tide on a global obesity epidemic.
\nIn the United States, for instance, the Trump administration\u2019s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has vowed to upend the nation’s food system and \u201c Make America Healthy Again " by targeting ultra-processed foods to curb surging obesity and disease.<\/p>\n
Under Mexico’s new order, schools must phase out any food and beverage displaying even one black warning logo marking it as high in salt, sugar, calories and fat. Mexico implemented that compulsory front-of-package labeling system in 2020.
\nEnforced from Monday morning, the start of the school week, the junk food ban also requires schools to serve more nutritious alternatives to junk food, like bean tacos, and offer plain drinking water.
\n\u201cIt is much better to eat a bean taco than a bag of potato chips,\u201d said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has championed the ban.<\/p>\n
Mexico\u2019s children consume more junk food than anywhere else in Latin America, according to UNICEF, which classifies the nation\u2019s childhood obesity epidemic as an emergency. Sugary drinks and highly processed foods account for 40% of the total calories that children consume in a day, the agency reports.
\n\u201cAt my daughter’s school, they told us that future activities wouldn’t have candy, it would be completely different, with fruit, vegetables and other food that’s healthy for kids,\u201d said Aurora Mart\u00ednez, a mother of two. \u201cIt will help us a lot.\u201d
\nOne-third of Mexican children are already considered overweight or obese, according to government statistics.<\/p>\n
School administrators found in violation of the order face stiff fines, ranging from $545 to $5,450.
\nBut enforcement poses a challenge in a country where previous junk food bans have struggled to gain traction and monitoring has been lax across Mexico\u2019s 255,000 schools, many of which lack water fountains \u2014 even reliable internet and electricity.
\nIt also wasn’t immediately clear how the government would forbid the sale of junk food on sidewalks outside school campuses, where street vendors typically hawk candy, chips, nachos and ice cream to kids during recess and after the school day ends.
\n\u201cIt will be difficult,\u201d said Abril Geraldine Rose de Le\u00f3n, a child therapist. \u201cBut it will be achieved in the long run.\u201d <\/p>\n
The ban on junk food in Mexican schools is a significant step towards addressing the country’s obesity and diabetes epidemics. With the support of parents and the enforcement of the new order, Mexico can make a positive impact on the health of its children. It will be interesting to see how this ban plays out and whether it can be a model for other countries to follow.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the main goal of the junk food ban in Mexican schools?
\nA: The main goal is to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages among schoolchildren and promote a healthier diet.
\nQ: What types of foods are banned under the new order?
\nA: Foods and beverages that display a black warning logo for being high in salt, sugar, calories, and fat are banned.
\nQ: How will the ban be enforced?
\nA: School administrators who violate the order face fines, and the government will monitor compliance.
\nQ: What are the potential challenges to enforcing the ban?
\nA: Challenges include lax monitoring, lack of resources in some schools, and the sale of junk food by street vendors outside school campuses.
\nQ: What is the expected outcome of the ban?
\nA: The expected outcome is a reduction in the consumption of junk food among schoolchildren and a positive impact on their health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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