Mexico bans junk food in schools to combat childhood obesity

In a significant move to combat obesity among children and adolescents, the Mexican authorities have announced a complete ban on the sale of unhealthy food and sugary drinks in schools, Report informs via Mexican media.

Mario Delgado, the Minister of Education, made the announcement during a daily press conference with President Claudia Sheinbaum. "On September 30, the heads of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health of the previous government signed an agreement to promote healthy eating in schools. From March 29, 2025, it will be mandatory for all schools in the national education system at the primary, secondary, and senior levels to comply with the agreement's conditions," Delgado stated.

The minister clarified that the ban targets ultra-processed products with low nutritional value. "We already had certain guidelines, but they lacked the necessary strength. In reality, it turns out that the overwhelming majority of schools are dominated by the sale of products with low nutritional value," the minister reported, citing research data that shows 98% of schools sell unhealthy food, 95% sell sugary drinks, and 79% sell sodas.

Delgado emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, particularly due to the alarming rates of obesity among schoolchildren. "According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey, 5.7 million students aged 5-11 years and 10.4 million students aged 12-19 years struggle with obesity. This is a problem we cannot ignore," the minister said, linking the situation to excessive sugar consumption.