In Mexico, Healthy Food Is a Child’s Right
Dec 7, 2021, 1:00 PM, Posted by Ana Larrañaga
Last year, Mexico took a tremendous step toward prioritizing childrens’ health by banning junk foods and sugary drinks.
“Children have the right to be in environments that are health promoting and free of unhealthy foods and drinks.” —Ana Larrañaga works with Salud Crítica, a public health advocacy organization based in Mexico City
Editor’s note: This post originally appeared on the State of Childhood Obesity website.
Last year, in the midst of the pandemic, legislators in Mexico moved swiftly to ban the sale of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
Oaxaca was the first state to approve junk food bans.
This started as a true grassroots movement, ignited by the strong community advocacy of 13 different Indigenous groups who were determined to protect people from diabetes and obesity—and prevent the displacement of traditional foods that are deeply rooted in their culture. They fought to prohibit distributors from delivering sugary drinks and junk food to their local stores.