In October of last year, the Mexican Congress approved reforms to the provisions of the General Health Bill, regarding prevention of obesity, food labeling, and non-alcoholic beverages. This includes a new warning labeling for all consumer products, including both food and drinks.
It seems that the new labeling includes traffic-looking warnings, of being high in saturated fats, sodium, sugar or calories. Keep in mind that Mexico – where one third of the population is obese – is the second most obese country in the world, after the United States. In addition, Mexico ranks high for its residents having diabetes and hypertension-related health problems. Thus, Mexico joins Chile, Uruguay and Peru in this measure in Latin America.
The requirement to label with the aforementioned warning labeling all foods or food products that exceed what is established, will bring complications for ultra-processed products that are so common in the habits of the Mexicans that many times are the only thing found in the “corner shop.”
This is where the opportunity for the poultry industry lies. We are talking about two great products: chicken and eggs. We must focus on the population consuming more of them, to promote them as part of a healthy lifestyle in schools, universities, workplaces, hospitals, supermarkets, markets, etc. It's not even a matter of money ─ let's just think how much a bag of chips costs compared to an egg!
Chicken and eggs fit into something recommended by the experts of the Fundación Mexicana para la Salud (Mexican Health Foundation): to eat healthy and to increase physical activity. Without this, and without nutritional education, there is no warning labeling that will reduce obesity.
What do you think?
