Mexico City – A prohibition of junk food sponsored by the government in schools throughout Mexico entered into force on Saturday, authorities said, since the country tries to address one of the worst epidemics of obesity and diabetes of the world.
Health guidelines, first published last fallTake a direct opportunity of salty and sweet processed products that have become a basic element for generations of Mexican schoolchildren, such as sugary fruit drinks, packaged fried potatoes, artificial pork bark and peanuts with flavor to Chile and with a flavor to Chile.
By announcing the prohibition, the Ministry of Education of Mexico published in X: “Goodbye, junk food!” And encouraged parents to support the government’s crusade cooking healthy meals for their children.
Mexico’s ambitious attempt to redo its food culture and reprogram Global Obesity Epidemic.
In the United StatesFor example, the Secretary of Health of the Trump Administration, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.He has promised to dump the nation’s food system and ” Make America healthy again “By attacking ultra -prosecuted foods in obesity loop and disease.
According to Mexico’s new request, schools must eliminate any food and drink that is exhibited Even a black warning logo Mark it as high in salt, sugar, calories and fats. Mexico implemented that Front-OF-Hackage Labeling System in 2020.
Forced from Monday morning, the beginning of the school week, the prohibition of junk food also requires that schools serve more nutritious alternatives to junk food, such as bean tacos, and offer drinking water.
“It is much better to eat a bull of beans than a bag of fries,” he said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaumthat has defended the effort.
The children of Mexico consume more junk food than in any other place in Latin America, according to UNICEF, which classifies the epidemic of child obesity of the nation as an emergency. Sugary drinks and highly processed foods represent 40% of the total calories that children consume in one day, the agency reports.
A third of Mexican children are already considered overweight or obesity, according to government statistics.
School administrators found in violation of the order face rigid fines, ranging from $ 545 to $ 5,450.
But the application raises a challenge in a country where Previous scrap food prohibitions They have struggled to win traction and monitoring has been lax in the 255,000 schools in Mexico, many of which lack water and even internet sources and reliable electricity.
Nor was it immediately clear how the government would prohibit the sale of junk food on sidewalks outside the school campuses, where street vendors generally sweet made, french fries, nachos and ice cream to children during the recess and after the school day ends.
