Mexico Implements New Food Safety Measures

The Mexican Food Safety Agency (SEGALMEX), with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), implemented the second stage of the Training Model in Food Orientation on June 9. The model aims to promote the adoption of healthier diets and habits.

“We provide guidance for consumers on which foods are healthy. This is part of our commitment to contribute to the reduction of chronic degenerative diseases related to bad eating habits that lead to malnutrition, overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and others that affect the heart,” said the Deneral Director of SEGALMEX, Ignacio Ovalle Fernández, during the announcement of the beginning of the project’s second stage.

The model aims to contribute to the development of skills, attitudes and eating practices that favor the adoption of a healthy diet in the individual and family, explains SADER. The program, which is for beneficiaries of the Rural Supply Program (PAR) of Diconsa, began its second stage today. Part of this project is inter-institutional and involves the use social networks to disseminate videos and publications with nutritional information and training programs for the vulnerable population. The programs will be to those at over 23,000 Diconsa locations nationwide, which supplied basic basket and complementary products from the Diconsa Rural Supply Program to underserved individuals.

Unicef ​​had urged Mexico to take highly-necessary measures to address the deterioration of health and nutrition of its population, which were further worsened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect was more pronounced in girls and boys at households with lower income and whose nutritional and health status was already poor. According to Unicef, the economic crisis caused by the loss of employment and the income reduction that were a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic will further intensify the vulnerability of households. These effects are expected to be felt mainly by the population that already lived in poverty and food deprivation. Therefore, explains the organization, these groups should receive priority attention.