• INJUNCTION: A federal judge in Mexico temporarily halted a new anti-obesity government regulation mandating front-of-package labeling on processed foods, giving the Mexican private sector an initial victory in what it considers is a process that lacks transparency and legality.
• DOUBTS: “This shows that there is reasonable doubt about the transparency and legality of the process in discussion and approval of this regulation”, said the Mexican private sector arguing that the Government did not take into account scientific evidence and international commitments.
• CONTEXT: Last year, Mexico’s Congress approved front-of-package nutrition labeling on processed foods aimed at curbing the country’s obesity crisis. The share of Mexicans adults who are overweight or obese grew from 71.3% in 2012 to a record high of 75.2% in 2018, per a government survey.
• DAMAGE: “This change seeks to take one step further to firmly confront the obesity and overweight epidemic that has deeply affected the health of Mexicans, and the competitiveness of our country”, said the Ministry of the Economy, insisting the government will abide by its decision.
