In Mexico, prohibition for the sale of «junk food» in schools comes into force in schools

The prohibition for the sale of «junk food» – food and drinks with low nutritional value and high content of sugar, fat and sodium – in the schools of the National Educational System of Mexico entered into force as of this Saturday.

In this way, the general guidelines to which the preparation.

On Friday, the head of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) of the Government of Mexico, Mario Delgado, summoned educational authorities, personnel with supervision functions, as well as teachers, to inform and raise awareness of the persons responsible for selling food in schools on these provisions.

Last October a few days after the presidency of Mexico by Claudia Sheinbaum, Delgado presented the program to improve the feeding of Mexican students and prohibit the sale of «junk food» in schools.

The actions of this strategy have four fundamental points: to prevent the sale of ultraprocessed foods in school spaces; Promote natural water consumption in schools; Train healthy nutrition to those responsible for them; and generate a communication of good food practices and promote sports activity.

Delgado said on October 21 that by March 29, 2025 the strategy would be “mandatory for all schools in the national education system of the three levels; Basic upper and upper average ».

According to data from the Ministry of Health, at that time, 98 % of schools still sold «junk food», of poor quality, 95 % offered sugary drinks and almost 8 out of 10 in 10 sodas were sold (sodas).

According to Delgado, the SEP, under its position, «has all the legal instruments in the General Law of Education to regulate that there is no junk food in schools.»

According to data from the organization, the power of the consumer, in Mexico the overweight and childhood obesity have increased by 120 % in the last three decades.

The measures, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on September 30, seek to guarantee nutrition and health from the first years of students in Mexico.

«The food and drinks that are offered within schools must privilege natural or minimally processed ingredients in the locality or region. And if their packaging have warning stamps, they will not be able to be in schools, ”says the norm.

EFE