Unregulated food distribution in primary and secondary schools
In at least two public educational institutions in Mexico City, students and merchants circumvent the restrictions imposed by the SEP on the sale of processed foods in school cooperatives. A documented case occurs in a primary school in the Benito Juárez Mayor’s Office, where students sell bags of snacks at varying prices, despite warnings from the teaching staff.
Distribution and consumption strategies
According to testimonies collected, minors use discreet tactics to avoid sanctions. Leonel, a primary school student, explained: “Some sell potatoes for 15 pesos; if the bag is bigger, they raise the price.” Although teachers have detected the practice, in some cases they tolerate the activity under conditions of discretion. On the other hand, in a private high school in the same district, teenagers store products such as marshmallows and chilled candies in a shared locker, thus avoiding direct sales but facilitating access.
Impact on merchants and alternatives
The regulatory measure also affects vendors established outside the campuses. José Urdapilleta, with a decade of experience selling candy and soft drinks near a kindergarten in Lindavista, recognized the need to adapt: “If it is permanently banned, I will diversify my merchandise.” Despite this, none of the 10 street stalls in the area have received formal orders to remove products with warning stamps.
Does this reflect a real change in eating habits? Although cooperatives have replaced snacks with fruits, demand persists, evidencing challenges in the application of public health policies.
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