Mexico Banning Junk Food in Schools
Come on United States, Mexico is putting you to shame.
In one sweeping motion -- though the rules are not yet approved -- Mexico has banned junk food, from all of its 220,000 public and private elementary and middle schools.
With 4.5 million children between 5 and 11 overweight, and 26 percent of their youth population battling weight issues, President Felipe Calderon, kicked off a nationwide anti-obesity campaign earlier this year, saying,
Unfortunately, we are the country with the biggest problem of childhood obesity in the entire world.
Since Mexican schools don't have lunch rooms, the ban would affect the sale of junk food from vendors, co-ops, and food stands who sell food to the students. The new rules would ban foods like:
- Tortas -- often greasy and filled with meat. Only lighter versions, filled with beans, or chicken and veggies would be allowed.
- High fat versions of tacos, burritos, and salads
- Soft drinks
- Pork rinds
- Atole (similar to hot chocolate)
- Fruit drinks (100 percent fruit juice is allowed)
Improving the nutritional quality of school lunches, and putting junk food a little out of reach, are noble goals. The new rules aren't without problems, though. Since the meals aren't being served through a school food service program -- and typically not even on school grounds -- it seems like they'll be tough to enforce.
When Mexico declared in April that all students would get an hour of exercise every day, many school administrators asked, "How?" Without playgrounds and gyms, or without the funding to provide, or at least, enforce healthy school meals, Mexico might be all talk.
But, at least they are talking. In the U.S., the Let's Move campaign has spurred on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, but it's sitting stalled in Congress.
What do you think about Mexico's new rules? Will they be effective?
14 Comments
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Created / Updated: June 1, 2010
I got to say that is definitely taking control of a big situation!
I think that because the United States of America was built upon the foundation of being a free country, there is no way the government would be able to enforce it.
If they were to try, I feel that there would be a big revolt towards the government. It would be in their best interest to promote health in a way that gets people to get out and get some exercise.
Darren
ReplySo Bethany, you'd rather America have a totalitarian government that can just issue decrees like this? Notice they ban it in private elementary schools!
ReplyI don't see why this is an automatic jump to a totalitarian government. Schools in the US already ban things like midriff-baring tops, guns, drugs (even OTCs like Advil), cell phones, video games, etc. It is not unreasonable or unprecedented to ban soda and candy or other junk food.
ReplyNo, Arrowsmith, that's not what I said. I would just like the U.S. to actually act on all their talk about poor quality school lunches, that's all.
ReplyQUOTE:
"100 percent fruit juice is allowed"
Yeah, but isn't that still a very high-sugar (fruit sugars) drink? Would a veggie drink or veggie drink blend be healthier?
ReplyMy experience has been that veggie drinks have added sugar or sodium. Maybe that's just the ones I've tried
ReplyI think so too, Jim, but I think their goal is to get rid of sodas. They're also pushing water and unsweetened flavored water, so I think fruit juice is just one option.
Reply...and let's be realistic, too. I know *my* kids wouldn't drink vegetable juice, so 100% OJ is a better choice than say, dumping expensive veggie juice down the drain every day.
ReplyWell I am glad this doesn't affect the high schoolers.
No matter how an individual feels about this subject...
The fact is that if someone is old enough to apply to college, drive, or babysit your kids, they are old enough to decide what to eat.
ReplyPork rinds aren't all bad...didn't George W. Bush proclaim them as a health food? I eat pork rinds a lot...they're like chips, only they have protein and no carbs. I have problems with governments banning any specific type of food--food isn't intrinsically bad; it's when kids overeat calorie-dense foods that they become obese.
ReplyI think the headline is deceiving. The government isn't actually banning any kind of food. They just aren't allowing it to be sold near the schools.
ReplyUltimately, health isn't about bans. We do need to limit choices in schools so that the menu lines up with what we're teaching about nutrition. But it's up to parents and educators to teach and live a healthy lifestyle. If we can't do it, how do we expect our kids to?
ReplyHere is how sugar works: in order to digest sugar (or any food) the body needs "tools", these tools are enzymes, vitamins and minerals. If the "tools" are not present in the food, the body will pull them from your teeth, bones, and organs so the digestive process may continue. In essence any processed food works like a thieve. It will leave your body weak and sick. You would not let a thieve into your house, but to rob your body (or your children's) is OK I guess for some. The sugars that are not digested due to lack of "tools" are stored for later, typically in your lower areas, in an expectation that when the "tools" finally become available, the fat will be burnt; but this will never happen with most people as the poor nutrition continues. Being fat is just one aspect of it and people who do not get fat think they can abuse their bodies without consequences. Sure enough, eventually they end up with a host of diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, vision problems, etc. And how about the cost of this model of nutrition: the latest estimates of the health care cost projected into the future (per The Coming Generational Storm: L. Kotlikoff) estimates the future obligations of the US government (Medicare and Medicaid) at 43 trillion dollars, this is 143 thousand dollars per US citizen. So the family of four will use over half a million dollars in their lifetime not to mention their private bills. Anyone still thinks junk food should be served at schools?
ReplyI see no problem with controlling food selections at school. Sadly parents allow their children to eat junk.
ReplyLater in life, there are almost always regrets. If children go to school to get educations, it stands that food and nutritional education should be a part of the curriculum. The best education comes from demonstration.