Mexico to Lead Discussions on School Feeding in Regional Forum

Mexico will host the 10th Regional School Feeding Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean on Aug. 27-30 in Mexico City. The event, organized by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the Mexican government, will focus on sustainable school feeding programs in the region.

The forum aims to build on Mexico’s recent integration into the School Feeding Coalition, a global initiative led by France, Finland, and Brazil, as reported by Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA).

During the forum, Mexico will share its progress in transitioning from industrialized school meals to those made from natural products. This shift is part of the country's broader efforts to regulate food environments and address conflicts of interest with the processed food industry. Mexico will also present its General Law on Adequate and Sustainable Nutrition and the successful decentralized school feeding program implemented by the Mexico City government.

The forum will focus on the role of school meals in fighting malnutrition, a pressing issue in a region where many children face challenges in accessing healthy food. The forum will also address the impact of climate change on education, as extreme weather events increasingly disrupt schooling. 

The World Health Organization stresses the state's role in ensuring healthy school environments to prevent health issues and support children's development and learning. Regulating low-nutritional foods in schools could reduce junk food consumption, improve diets, and lower obesity rates within a school year, according to the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).

Mexico ranks among the top countries in the world for childhood obesity, according to UNICEF. Furthermore, 12% of Mexican children under five years old face malnutrition, a problem primarily attributed to the overproduction of ultra-processed foods high in sugars, fats, and salt, as reported by the INSP. At the same time, the consumption of fresh foods like whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits has decreased.