MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥 A government-sponsored junk food ban in schools across Mexico took effect on Saturday, officials said, as the country tries to tackle one of the world鈥檚 worst obesity and diabetes epidemics.
, take a direct shot at salty and sweet processed products that have become a staple for generations of Mexican schoolchildren, such as sugary fruit drinks, packaged chips, artificial pork rinds and soy-encased, chili-flavored peanuts.
Announcing that the ban had become law, Mexico's Education Ministry posted on X: 鈥淔arewell, junk food!鈥 It encouraged parents to support the government's crusade by cooking healthy meals for their kids.
鈥淥ne of the core principles of the new Mexican school system is healthy living," said Mario Delgado, the public health secretary. 鈥淭here's a high level of acceptance of this policy among parents.鈥
Mexico's ambitious attempt to remake its food culture and reprogram the next generation of consumers is being watched closely around the world as governments struggle to turn the tide on a .
, for instance, the Trump administration鈥檚 health secretary, , has vowed to upend the nation's food system and 鈥 " by targeting ultra-processed foods to and disease.
Under Mexico's new order, schools must phase out any food and beverage displaying marking it as high in salt, sugar, calories and fat. Mexico implemented that .
Enforced from Monday morning, the start of the school week, the junk food ban also requires schools to serve more nutritious alternatives to junk food, like bean tacos, and offer plain drinking water.
鈥淚t is much better to eat a bean taco than a bag of potato chips,鈥 said , who has championed the ban.
Mexico鈥檚 children consume more junk food than anywhere else in Latin America, according to UNICEF, which classifies the nation鈥檚 childhood obesity epidemic as an emergency. Sugary drinks and highly processed foods account for 40% of the total calories that children consume in a day, the agency reports.
鈥淎t my daughter's school, they told us that future activities wouldn't have candy, it would be completely different, with fruit, vegetables and other food that's healthy for kids,鈥 said Aurora Mart铆nez, a mother of two. 鈥淚t will help us a lot.鈥
One-third of Mexican children are already considered overweight or obese, according to government statistics.
School administrators found in violation of the order face stiff fines, ranging from $545 to $5,450.
But enforcement poses a challenge in a country where have struggled to gain traction and monitoring has been lax across Mexico鈥檚 255,000 schools, many of which lack water fountains 鈥 even reliable internet and electricity.
It also wasn't immediately clear how the government would forbid the sale of junk food on sidewalks outside school campuses, where street vendors typically hawk candy, chips, nachos and ice cream to kids during recess and after the school day ends.
鈥淚t will be difficult,鈥 said Abril Geraldine Rose de Le贸n, a child therapist. 鈥淏ut it will be achieved in the long run.鈥
