1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:05,416 I grew up in a place with a lot of food that rich people called junk food. 2 00:00:05,416 --> 00:00:06,905 We didn't call it junk food. 3 00:00:06,905 --> 00:00:08,627 We just called it food. 4 00:00:08,627 --> 00:00:11,511 We went to one place in Mexico taking bold steps 5 00:00:11,511 --> 00:00:15,729 to address the fact that nutrition can be pretty damn expensive. 6 00:00:19,764 --> 00:00:25,854 (Emily) In Oaxaca, food is a vital part of tradition, ritual, and community. 7 00:00:32,330 --> 00:00:37,699 Tlayudas that go with meat, cheese, and lard 8 00:00:37,699 --> 00:00:39,379 are my favorite food. 9 00:00:39,379 --> 00:00:41,651 My favorite dish is black mole. 10 00:00:41,651 --> 00:00:43,046 Zucchini with cheese. 11 00:00:44,407 --> 00:00:46,652 (Emily) And more recently business. 12 00:00:46,652 --> 00:00:49,364 Thousands of tourists flocked to the city's restaurants 13 00:00:49,364 --> 00:00:52,496 confirming its standing as a global food Mecca. 14 00:00:55,130 --> 00:00:59,665 But this phenomenon masks a major and growing problem among locals. 15 00:00:59,665 --> 00:01:02,184 An obesity and diabetes epidemic 16 00:01:02,184 --> 00:01:04,883 fueled by highly processed food. 17 00:01:13,933 --> 00:01:16,031 BANNED FOOD 18 00:01:16,729 --> 00:01:19,894 (Emily) One third of kids in Mexico are overweight and obese 19 00:01:19,894 --> 00:01:23,102 and more than 10% of its population has diabetes. 20 00:01:23,102 --> 00:01:27,244 Mexico has one of the highest number of diabetes cases in the world. 21 00:01:27,244 --> 00:01:29,314 It's the country's number one killer. 22 00:01:29,314 --> 00:01:32,257 My favorite junk food is fried food. 23 00:01:32,257 --> 00:01:36,480 I like buying a lot of chips and soda. 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,413 I love chips because they are very tasty. 25 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:43,182 (Emily) The government is trying to tackle the problem. 26 00:01:43,182 --> 00:01:46,226 In October 2020, new federal regulations went into effect 27 00:01:46,226 --> 00:01:49,887 requiring black octagon labels on food products, 28 00:01:49,887 --> 00:01:53,531 warning against high sugar, salt, or fat content. 29 00:01:53,531 --> 00:01:57,324 The state of Oaxaca, also ban the sale of junk food to kids. 30 00:01:57,324 --> 00:01:59,381 The question is, will it work? 31 00:02:01,274 --> 00:02:03,062 Four chocolate ones. 32 00:02:03,062 --> 00:02:04,830 So two, three, four. 33 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:07,733 (Emily) Mayra Hernandez runs a corner store in Oaxaca City. 34 00:02:08,313 --> 00:02:12,283 Do you think that the labels actually make a difference in what people purchase? 35 00:02:12,593 --> 00:02:13,958 I don't think so. 36 00:02:14,380 --> 00:02:19,307 Client's don't give it much thought. 37 00:02:19,595 --> 00:02:21,088 As you can see here, 38 00:02:21,743 --> 00:02:25,600 these have the new labels, 39 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,545 but people still take the same products. 40 00:02:31,019 --> 00:02:34,600 Why do you think junk food has become so popular here in Oaxaca? 41 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,020 The lack of money. 42 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,453 Salaries are very low. 43 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,964 If you want a proper breakfast, 44 00:02:40,964 --> 00:02:44,055 like some eggs and coffee with milk, 45 00:02:45,212 --> 00:02:47,237 you spend 45 - 50 pesos [$2 to $2.50]. 46 00:02:47,627 --> 00:02:51,412 If you buy this, it costs half of that. 47 00:02:53,430 --> 00:02:56,871 Have you seen a change in sales because of the prohibition 48 00:02:56,871 --> 00:02:59,033 on selling junk food to kids? 49 00:02:59,383 --> 00:03:01,865 No, I haven't seen it. 50 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,567 Sometimes the dad comes with the shopping list 51 00:03:06,567 --> 00:03:08,319 for what the kid wants. 52 00:03:09,885 --> 00:03:14,264 When I go to the store, I don't look at the nutrition labels. 53 00:03:14,264 --> 00:03:16,892 The truth is I haven't looked at the new labels. 54 00:03:16,892 --> 00:03:18,883 I went to the pharmacy to buy a soda, 55 00:03:18,883 --> 00:03:21,764 but they said they couldn't sell it to me 56 00:03:21,764 --> 00:03:24,052 because I am underage. 57 00:03:25,134 --> 00:03:27,512 (Emily) There's some evidence that warning labels work. 58 00:03:27,512 --> 00:03:30,638 Chile started requiring them in 2016 59 00:03:30,638 --> 00:03:33,578 and the sale of sodas fell by nearly 25%. 60 00:03:35,033 --> 00:03:37,113 But getting people to eat healthier 61 00:03:37,113 --> 00:03:39,419 could also require a cultural shift. 62 00:03:41,539 --> 00:03:44,226 Charlynne Curiel studies people's eating habits. 63 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,135 (Charlynne) There is an association of status 64 00:03:49,135 --> 00:03:51,831 that makes people think that [processed food] is better. 65 00:03:51,831 --> 00:03:56,111 That is easier, makes you more modern, 66 00:03:56,111 --> 00:03:58,576 and that you've left traditions behind. 67 00:03:58,752 --> 00:04:02,401 The prohibition on selling junk food to minors, 68 00:04:02,401 --> 00:04:03,626 what do you make of it? 69 00:04:03,872 --> 00:04:04,885 It's necessary. 70 00:04:04,885 --> 00:04:07,040 It is a step, just like the new labels. 71 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,695 These are important steps. 72 00:04:08,695 --> 00:04:13,136 But I don't think they threaten the interests of the industry. 73 00:04:13,136 --> 00:04:16,250 As Oaxaca has become more well-known, 74 00:04:17,118 --> 00:04:19,986 have local people here change their diets? 75 00:04:20,270 --> 00:04:25,485 In the last few years, these products have really flooded the market, 76 00:04:25,485 --> 00:04:29,801 and because of how easy it is to consume these hyper-processed foods, 77 00:04:29,801 --> 00:04:31,704 they have an incredible reach. 78 00:04:31,704 --> 00:04:35,585 So, anywhere in this state where there is electricity, 79 00:04:35,585 --> 00:04:37,731 you will find a refrigerator with Coca-Cola. 80 00:04:39,216 --> 00:04:41,701 It's time to eat! Let's eat! 81 00:04:43,748 --> 00:04:46,865 (Emily) The Garcia family lives on the outskirts of Oaxaca City. 82 00:04:47,809 --> 00:04:50,193 There's a long history of diabetes in their family 83 00:04:50,193 --> 00:04:51,966 and they're trying to eat healthier. 84 00:04:53,413 --> 00:04:55,766 (Raquel) He can drink a little bit if he wants. 85 00:04:55,977 --> 00:04:58,342 (Emily) But that demands more money and time. 86 00:05:05,946 --> 00:05:07,395 (Emily) What are you cooking? 87 00:05:07,395 --> 00:05:09,872 (Raquel) I'm making a chicken Milanese. 88 00:05:09,872 --> 00:05:12,662 And I'll make zucchini with cheese. 89 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,573 Thank you for having me at the table. 90 00:05:18,573 --> 00:05:19,551 For lunch. 91 00:05:21,766 --> 00:05:24,008 (Rigoberto) Give her a spoon and a cup. 92 00:05:24,008 --> 00:05:26,200 (Emily) What is the soup made with? 93 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,271 (Rigoberto) Pumpkin, tomato... 94 00:05:28,271 --> 00:05:31,170 (Raquel) Tomato, onion, and cheese. 95 00:05:31,785 --> 00:05:33,369 (Emily) A family recipe. 96 00:05:33,369 --> 00:05:34,411 (Raquel) Yes. 97 00:05:34,925 --> 00:05:39,836 (Emily) A year ago or two, what would you normally eat at lunch? 98 00:05:40,238 --> 00:05:42,987 A lot of coke, but now we have more water than coke. 99 00:05:43,281 --> 00:05:46,432 We'd have one at lunch, another for breakfast, 100 00:05:46,432 --> 00:05:47,900 and another for dinner. 101 00:05:48,665 --> 00:05:51,128 A big bottle just like the one he brought over. 102 00:05:51,737 --> 00:05:53,892 For you guys, was it hard to change your diet? 103 00:05:54,153 --> 00:05:54,915 Yes, 104 00:05:54,915 --> 00:05:56,172 (Emily) Why? 105 00:05:56,172 --> 00:05:58,160 Because... 106 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,753 (Rigoberto) You were used to it. 107 00:05:59,753 --> 00:06:02,301 I was used to having sugar. 108 00:06:02,301 --> 00:06:04,752 Are you scared of becoming diabetic? 109 00:06:04,752 --> 00:06:05,688 Yes. 110 00:06:07,735 --> 00:06:09,441 (Luis) Because I have seen my dad. 111 00:06:09,441 --> 00:06:10,910 (Rigoberto) And your grandpa. 112 00:06:10,910 --> 00:06:12,012 (Luis) My grandpa. 113 00:06:15,901 --> 00:06:19,495 What changed a year ago that you decided that you had to 114 00:06:19,495 --> 00:06:23,298 stop eating so much junk food and stop drinking soft drinks? 115 00:06:23,738 --> 00:06:28,364 The doctor told me that I had to change my diet for my kids. 116 00:06:28,914 --> 00:06:33,909 The doctor also said that I can't eat too many fats or sugars 117 00:06:33,909 --> 00:06:35,543 because of my gallbladder. 118 00:06:36,135 --> 00:06:38,975 If I don't take care of myself, I will need surgery. 119 00:06:39,296 --> 00:06:42,301 (Emily) You change your diet for your kids more than anything? 120 00:06:43,053 --> 00:06:43,915 Yes, for the kids.