Food Fight

"Sin taxes" on booze and cigs are nothing new, but more countries (like Mexico) are expanding them to things like fatty snack foods:

"The Gulf coast state of Tabasco passed restrictions on the sale of sugary bottled drinks and high-carbohydrate snacks this week, less than two weeks after the southern state of Oaxaca became the first to do so. Legislators in several more states have introduced similar bills, all of which forbid merchants from selling 'junk' food to minors unless their parent or guardian is present and approves.

 

In the northern state of Chihuahua, Rep. Rene Frias introduced a bill 'to guarantee our children and youths a healthier diet and to fight obesity and excess weight.' The bill has not yet been voted on.

 

In Mexico City, the country's largest retail market, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said earlier this month 'we are working with legislators to see if it is feasible to get similar legislation in Mexico City.'

 

Some of the measures also would ban vending machines from dispensing such foods and prohibit their sale in or near schools.

 

The issue has come to a head with the coronavirus pandemic with Mexico having the third highest confirmed Covid-19 death toll in the world, trailing only the United States and Brazil. The government revealed that among the 57,774 Mexicans who have died, high blood pressure and obesity were the chief underlying conditions that may have complicated the disease, with diabetes a close third."

South Korea might be doing better with regard to comorbidities than Central and South America, but obesity is a growing problem here.

(Advanced Conversation posts are ones that I use in class with my adult conversation students.)