Similar issues seem to be at play in both countries, including bureaucracy, corporate interests and kids' already-developed palates.
"By all measures, Mexico is one of the fattest countries in the world, and the obesity starts early. One in three children is overweight or obese, according to the government. So the nation’s health and education officials stepped in last year to limit what schools could sell at recess. (Schools in Mexico do not provide lunch.)Soft drinks have been removed from schools, though, and fried foods have been drastically reduced.
"The officials quickly became snared in a web of special interests led by Mexico’s powerful snack food companies, which found support from regulators in the Ministry of the Economy."
But the battle has just begun, since, according to the article, “Dr. José Angel Córdova, Mexico’s health minister . . . estimates that one-third of Mexico’s health care spending goes to fight diseases related to obesity.”
Click here to read the entire article.
1 comment:
What an absolutely fascinating article. I had no idea the school lunch problems we have in this country were difficulties elsewhere.
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