School Junk Food Elimination in Mexico?
In a bid to combat the rising issue of childhood obesity, Mexico has implemented a multi-faceted strategy that includes restrictions on junk food sales near schools, mandatory front-of-package labeling on unhealthy foods, and taxes on sugary drinks.
Restrictions on Junk Food Sales Near Schools
Mexico has forbidden the sale of junk food and sugary beverages within a certain distance of schools. This move is aimed at limiting children's access to unhealthy foods during school hours.
Food Packaging Labeling
Clear, front-of-package warning labels are now mandatory on foods and beverages high in calories, sugars, salt, or saturated fats. These labels are designed to inform consumers, especially parents and children, about the health risks of certain products and discourage consumption.
Taxes on Sugary Drinks
Mexico has introduced an excise tax on sugary beverages to reduce consumption, particularly among children and adolescents. This fiscal policy is part of a broader set of interventions targeting obesity prevalence.
Beyond these measures, Mexico has also launched a digital school health record system for millions of primary school students, as part of a national school health strategy. This initiative could support monitoring and managing childhood obesity through better health data at the school level.
A Long-Standing Battle
Childhood obesity in Mexico has been a significant concern for several years. In 2016, the country declared an alert due to deaths from diabetes. According to a 2019 OECD report, 73% of Mexicans are overweight. One in three children in Mexico is overweight, and childhood obesity has doubled between 1996 and 2016, reaching a world record of 15%.
Social factors, including discourses surrounding food and physical activity, influence children's nutritional choices. A 2019 study concluded that these factors need to be addressed to help children make healthier choices.
The Role of Schools and Parents
It is not common for schools to provide a real lunch for children, especially in urban areas. In such cases, students often buy food directly from a counter located in the school or on the street. Parents and teachers need more support to help children make healthy choices. The law does not specify which products are considered unhealthy, only that they must follow the labeling classifications of the Secretariat of Health.
The current regulations and initiatives reflect Mexico’s commitment to addressing the public health epidemic of childhood obesity, aligning with global recommendations. While specific recent detailed legal texts or newer policies were not found in the search results, these measures demonstrate Mexico’s ongoing efforts to combat the issue.
Policy-and-legislation: With the escalating issue of diabetes-related deaths, Mexico declared an alert in 2016.General-news: According to a 2019 OECD report, 73% of Mexicans are overweight.Crime-and-justice: One in three children in Mexico is overweight, and childhood obesity has doubled between 1996 and 2016, reaching a world record of 15%.Science: A 2019 study concluded that social factors, including discourses surrounding food and physical activity, influence children's nutritional choices.Health-and-wellness: The law does not specify which products are considered unhealthy, only that they must follow the labeling classifications of the Secretariat of Health, requiring more education and support for parents and teachers to help children make healthy choices.Fitness-and-exercise: It is not common for schools to provide a real lunch for children, especially in urban areas, making it crucial to promote physical activity and healthier food choices.War-and-conflicts: Addressing childhood obesity is a long-standing battle that requires broad-ranging interventions and policy changes.
