Detailed research carried out by two NGOs monitoring the quality of food sold in Mexican schools suggests that negligent educational establishments are contributing to the high levels of obesity and diabetes in the country.
The vast majority of primary, secondary and high schools in Mexico are failing to comply with regulations covering the sale of food and beverages with low nutritional value, according to Poder del Consumidor and Red por los Derechos de la Infancia.
Schoolchildren consume an average of 500 additional calories a day due to the inadequate nutrition provided by schools, activists from the NGOs said at a recent press conference, when they presented results from a survey elaborated during the 2023-2024 academic year.
The NGOs’ Mi Escuela Saludable website maintains that 80 percent of the beverages offered in public and private institutions are commercial products containing high levels of sugar, and that 60 percent of the food items available are ultra-processed products, including chips, cookies and candy.
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