The Chocolate War

 

"Healthy schools now!

In Mexico it is already the law."

This poster in the subway reminded me of a new law that was recently passed in Mexico which prohibits the sale of junk food and beverages in schools throughout the nation.  The law was enacted to combat the country's high rate of child obesity and epidemic of diabetes.

When you go grocery shopping in Mexico you will see products on the shelves that have warning labels.  For about five years these "sellos" or stamps have been placed by the Departement of Health on packages of food to warn consumers of health risks such as "excess sodium" or "excess sugar".

(image taken from the internet)

For example, this jar of Nutella has been labeled as having excess calories, excess sugars, and excess saturated fat.

Any food product with one of these "sellos" cannot be sold in Mexican schools.

In Mexico, there is a new brand of chocolate products called "Chocolate Bienestar" (Well-being Chocolate) that is sponsored by the government to promote the Mexican chocolate industry.  President Claudia Sheinbaum supposedly said that "Chocolate Bienestar" should be allowed in the schools even though it carries three stamps... "excess sugar", "excess saturated fat", and "excess calories".  The President defended the chocolate saying "yes, it has sugar, but just a little bit."  Who are the owners of the company the produces "Chocolate Bienestar"?  The sons of Scheinbaum's predecessor and protege, former President Manuel López Obrador.  Interesting.

The Department of Agriculture has said that "Chocolate Bienestar" has four warning stamps, and according to the law... which was promoted by the new President... it CANNOT be sold in schools.  Period!