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Hola hola! 

Today’s newsletter is all about Mexico’s plan to ban junk food in schools by 2025. With childhood obesity rates skyrocketing, this could mark a big shift for future generations. The government has set strict rules and hefty fines, and it’ll be interesting to see how they enforce it.

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TOP NEWS 

Mexican Schools to Ban Junk Food or Pay Heavy Fines

Starting in March 2025, the Mexican government will ban the sale of junk food in schools to tackle what it calls the world's worst childhood obesity crisis.

Tell me more.

The new regulations, published last month, target popular snacks like sugary drinks, chips, artificial pork rinds, and chili-coated peanuts. Schools that don't comply face fines ranging from US $545 to $5,450, which could double for repeat offenses—nearly a year's salary for some administrators.

Mexico has the highest junk food consumption among children in Latin America, with many kids getting 40% of their calories from unhealthy snacks, according to UNICEF. One-third of Mexican children are overweight or obese. A survey found junk food in 98% of schools, sugary drinks in 95%, and soft drinks in 79%.

This is the third time the government has tried to implement a junk food ban in schools, with previous efforts hindered by inadequate access to free drinking water in 96% of schools.

What does this mean?

Mexico introduced warning labels on food packaging between 2010 and 2020, flagging products high in sugar, salt, calories, or saturated fats. Under the new rules, schools must remove any product that carries even one of these labels.

According to the 2023 National Health and Nutrition Survey, 37% of children aged 5–11 and over 40% of adolescents in Mexico are overweight or obese. If trends continue, 45% of Mexican adults could be obese by 2030.

Enforcement may be tricky, especially with vendors selling junk food outside 77% of schools. How the government will address this remains unclear.

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