Mexico Rolls out Sustainable Dietary Guidelines For 2025–2030

Mexico has introduced its Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Guidelines for 2025–2030, a new public policy tool that aims to improve population-wide nutrition while limiting environmental impact. The educational sector has been identified as a key channel for shaping dietary habits from an early age, according to the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).

The guidelines are designed for the entire population, with particular attention to school-age children and adolescents, a group considered critical for shaping long-term dietary habits. Anabelle Bonvecchio, Director of Research in Nutrition Policies and Programs, INSP, says the initiative seeks to address public health challenges without compromising environmental sustainability.

Developed by a multidisciplinary group from the public sector and civil society, the guidelines are grounded in scientific evidence and adapted to Mexico’s cultural diversity. They aim to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles while respecting regional food practices, making the recommendations accessible and relevant across the country.

Bonvecchio says the guidelines are intended to function as a unifying framework for public policy, aligning food, health, education, and social protection programs. The National System for Integral Family Development (DIF) is among the first institutions to implement them, setting a precedent for their integration into federal social programs.

Beyond their policy role, the guidelines also have an educational purpose. They are directed at primary health care workers, teachers, parents, and community leaders, who are expected to act as multipliers of the recommendations within their respective environments.

The educational sector plays a key role, as schools have significant influence over the lifestyles of children and adolescents, who spend a substantial part of their lives in educational settings. Globally, 149 million children under age five are too small for their age and 40 million are overweight, according to the FAO. Many of these children carry nutritional problems into their school years, affecting their ability to learn and their overall development.

INSP highlights that Mexico is among a small group of countries that have developed dietary guidelines integrating health and sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of environmental impact and diet cost. According to Bonvecchio, following the recommended diet costs nearly 30% less than the diet traditionally consumed in Mexico.

The impacts of individual dietary choices are closely connected to wider environmental challenges, including climate change, loss of habitats, and the degradation of ecosystems, as food production and consumption play a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions as well as increased water and land use.

This effort comes as international bodies issue a warning over the urgency of addressing land degradation in Latin America, reports MBN. The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report shows that land degradation, driven mainly by human activities such as deforestation, agricultural expansion, intensive input use, and unsustainable farming practices, threatens productivity, food security, and ecosystem resilience.

Cost and sustainability gains are linked to recommendations such as reducing red meat consumption, which is associated with higher economic and environmental costs, and limiting ultra-processed foods, which affect health and generate significant plastic waste and water use. 

The guidelines also include practical advice to support daily adoption, moving beyond nutritional targets to implementation strategies. In addition, an open-access course is now available to the public to encourage uptake of the guidelines in households, schools, and community settings.

Through this initiative, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to advancing a healthier, more sustainable, and accessible food system, positioning Mexico as a reference point in the development of dietary policies that link public health with environmental considerations.