No more junk food in Mexican schools as government fights obesity

Mexico has banned school junk food to tackle the obesity crisis, an initiative led by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The initiative promotes healthy alternatives, such as regional and seasonal plants without added sugar or salt, in addition to promoting plain water and nutrition education while having oversight on food preparation and vendor compliance. 

Junk food includes ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages, such as chips, cookies, candies, and sodas.

The government has updated the General Education Law and program Vive Saludable, Vive Feliz to promote health education, physical activity, and prevention of obesity while making flour fortification mandatory. It also has measures to monitor the weight, height, and body mass index in schools while launching general guidelines for the sale and distribution of prepared and processed foods and beverages in schools.

The 2020–2022 National Health and Nutrition Survey shows overweight and obesity rates among schoolchildren have reached 36.5% — six million children. However, they also face stunting (14.4%), underweight (4.8%), and micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D).

Experts define unhealthy diets as eating patterns linked to high consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages. These habits are not just linked to obesity but also metabolic syndrome, other non-communicable diseases, deficiencies in essential nutrients, and increased environmental pollution.

Mexico’s Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, wants to ensure that this generation of the nation’s children is the “healthiest in history.” He stresses that education is the key to ending the country’s highest rate of childhood overweight and obesity.

Experts cite a 2021–2022 international study on food policies that found 85% of Mexican children (10–12) could access sweet desserts, 88% had access to salty snacks, and 78% could buy sugary drinks at school. However, only 62% could access fruits and vegetables, while 57% mentioned the presence of water fountains.

Mexico’s Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo.Schools take initiative 

Delgado calls on educational authorities and teachers to raise awareness about guidelines to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity in schools.

“It is consistent with the commitment of the president’s administration to turn schools into spaces for health promotion and addiction prevention,” he comments.

The guidelines, which came into effect on March 29, are part of the Healthy Living framework established by the New Mexican School (NEM). This framework aims to promote healthy eating habits among children, adolescents, and young adults.

Delgado Carrillo also encouraged teachers to transform CTE meetings into learning communities, promoting trust, sharing challenges, and fostering a natural learning environment.

“I ask educational authorities, supervisory staff, and teachers to help us in this effort by informing and raising awareness among those responsible for selling food in schools about these regulations.”

“I also ask that you send them the manual published on the website, where they will find very clear guidelines on what cannot be sold and many suggestions on what can be offered.”

In his message to teachers gathered at the Sixth Session of the School Technical Council, he says: “This meeting is an opportunity for teachers to build trust, break down prejudices, leave behind the old and learn the new, share challenges and fill gaps with the wealth of collective knowledge, in an environment where no one is left behind.”

The Global Child Nutrition Foundation recently found that global school meal programs fed 407 million children in 2022, supported small-scale farmers, created jobs, and promoted sustainable food systems.