Coca-Cola ceased to sell several of its products in elementary schools in Mexico on Thursday, the Mexican Coca-Cola (BM InCC) announced in a statement last week.
The BMI “firmly supports this strategy, sharing the objective of contributing to the health care of Mexican girls and boys” reads the declaration.
“The BMI reinforces its commitment not to sell a product in its portfolio which has labels or warning warnings on its label in elementary schools in Mexico,” he adds.
The BMI recently joined the “Live Healthy, Live Happy” program of Mexico, a strategy launched by President Claudia Sheinbaum on February 25.
The national strategy aims to prohibit the sale of ultra-suitable and calories food and drinks in public and private schools, rather offering healthy alternatives with training provided to school officials on menus. It will also promote access to drinking water, will sensitize parents to the awareness of parents and pressure on the food industry to develop more nutritious products.
According to the National Health Survey, around 98% of Mexican schools sell junk food, while 95% sell sugary drinks.
Meanwhile, obesity affects around 40% of Mexico children and adolescents. The program aims to improve the health of 11 million basic students and reduce public spending at the cost of overweight -related diseases.
Studies suggest that Mexico is the highest consumer in Coca-Cola worldwide, with an annual consumption rate often estimated at 160 liters per capita.
Policy to ban junk food in schools was published in the official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on September 30, 2024.
The DOF published the following standards for food and drinks in schools:
- Foods must be of natural or minimal origin
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables must be offered
- For foods of animal origin, only poultry, such as chicken and turkey, is allowed and must be prepared without fat and skin
- These foods should be cooked using minimum sugar and oil
- Access to drinking water must be guaranteed, free of charge
- Caffein drinks are prohibited
In October, the Minister of Education Mario Delgado Tell to journalists During a press conference “We are one of the countries with the highest levels of infantile obesity in the world and we can no longer continue like this.”
The new rules on food and unhealthy drinks will come into force on March 29. Schools that do not respect the ban could be sentenced to a fine between 545 and 5,450 pesos (US $ 27 and $ 273).
The sale of drinks with warning labels will also be prohibited in stores and by street sellers in areas surrounding schools.
A government -sponsored health campaign began in schools across the country on March 12. The program will provide health checks of 35,000 students from 2,094 elementary schools, including the size and weight of students, eye and oral health checks, and the creation of digital files.
With reports from Mexico sun,, Zócalo magazine And Chronicler
