• FRONT-OF-PACK: Mexico’s Senate passed legal changes mandating front-of-pack labelling on food high in sugar, sodium, saturated fat and calories aimed at curbing the country’s obesity and overweight crisis, similar to the ones currently in place in Chile and Peru.
• LEGAL FIGHT: After years of bitter fight between consumer groups and the food industry , the changes have now passed both houses of Congress and the Mexican Government -which supports the measure- has 180 business days to draft the regulation and set a date for enforcement
• URGENCY: “This amendment….could not wait any longer. Mexico is in an emergency situation regarding the increase in overweight and obesity, which currently affects 1 in 3 children and adolescents”, said Christian Skoog, the UN’s Children Fund (UNICEF) representative in Mexico.
• STATISTICS: According to a report published by UNICEF this month, 35% Mexico’s of school age children are overweight. Meanwhile, the Organization for Economic Development’s (OECD) most recent data shows that more than 70 percent of adults in Mexico are overweight.
