Reports Show Success in Mexico’s Junk Food Tax

Share On Social!

Healthier foods are not always affordable or convenient, but the health risks of eating junk foods like chips, energy drinks and candy put many families at risk for diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

To reverse the rising diabetic rates in Mexico, Mexico City put a 8 percent tax on high- calorie snacks to help reduce consumption and purchases of high sodium, high sugar snacks that have more than 275 calories per 100 grams of product.

The tax has been successful in low-income and medium-income homes where a recent article from American Heart Association (AHA) explains that low-income families bought 10.2 percent less junk food, while medium-income households bought 5.8 percent less.

Researchers from Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill want to further investigate how these changes impact nutritional quality of overall diet, to see if citizens are switching to healthier options like fruits and vegetables or simply buying cheaper street food.

Still resting on researchers and health advocates minds about the tax is how to replace junk foods with fruits and vegetables into the regular diet of citizens.

Copy & Share on Twitter: Mexico’s Junk Food Tax Shows Some Success! #SaludAmerica salud.to/29ud4uM