0:00:00.870,0:00:05.416
I grew up in a place with a lot of food[br]that rich people called junk food.

0:00:05.416,0:00:06.905
We didn't call it junk food.

0:00:06.905,0:00:08.627
We just called it food.

0:00:08.627,0:00:11.511
We went to one place in Mexico[br]taking bold steps

0:00:11.511,0:00:15.729
to address the fact that nutrition[br]can be pretty damn expensive.

0:00:16.984,0:00:25.561
(Emily) <i>In Oaxaca, food is a vital part of[br]tradition, ritual, and community.</i>

0:00:32.600,0:00:38.519
Tlayudas that go with meat, [br]cheese, and lard

0:00:38.519,0:00:40.065
are my favorite food.

0:00:40.065,0:00:41.651
My favorite dish is black mole.

0:00:41.651,0:00:43.046
Zucchini with cheese.

0:00:44.587,0:00:46.652
(Emily) <i>And more recently business.</i>

0:00:46.652,0:00:49.364
<i>Thousands of tourists [br]flocked to the city's restaurants</i>

0:00:49.364,0:00:52.496
<i>confirming its standing[br]as a global food Mecca.</i>

0:00:55.130,0:00:59.665
<i>But this phenomenon masks a major[br]and growing problem among locals.</i>

0:00:59.665,0:01:04.883
<i>An obesity and diabetes epidemic[br]fueled by highly processed food.</i>

0:01:13.113,0:01:15.211
BANNED FOOD

0:01:16.729,0:01:19.894
(Emily) <i>One third of kids in Mexico[br]are overweight and obese</i>

0:01:19.894,0:01:23.102
<i>and more than 10 percent [br]of its population has diabetes.</i>

0:01:23.102,0:01:27.244
<i>Mexico has one of the highest number[br]of diabetes cases in the world.</i>

0:01:27.244,0:01:29.592
<i>It's the country's number one killer.</i>

0:01:29.592,0:01:32.549
My favorite junk food is fried food.

0:01:32.549,0:01:36.518
I like buying a lot of chips and soda.

0:01:36.518,0:01:39.650
I love chips because they are very tasty.

0:01:40.601,0:01:42.932
(Emily) <i>The government is trying to[br]tackle the problem.</i>

0:01:42.932,0:01:46.233
<i>In October, new federal regulations [br]went into effect,</i>

0:01:46.233,0:01:49.651
<i>requiring black octagon labels [br]on food products,</i>

0:01:49.651,0:01:53.531
<i>warning against high sugar, [br]salt, or fat content.</i>

0:01:53.531,0:01:57.766
<i>The state of Oaxaca,[br]also ban the sale of junk food to kids.</i>

0:01:57.766,0:01:59.011
<i>The question is, will it work?</i>

0:02:01.334,0:02:03.213
Four chocolate ones.

0:02:03.213,0:02:04.830
So two, three, four.

0:02:04.830,0:02:07.500
(Emily) <i>Mayra Hernandez runs a corner store[br]in Oaxaca City.</i>

0:02:07.943,0:02:12.583
Do you think that the labels actually[br]make a difference in what people purchase?

0:02:12.583,0:02:14.220
I don't think so.

0:02:14.220,0:02:19.665
Client's don't give it much thought.

0:02:19.665,0:02:21.513
As you can see here,

0:02:21.513,0:02:25.770
these have the new labels,

0:02:25.770,0:02:31.019
but people still take the same products.

0:02:31.019,0:02:34.977
What do you think junk food [br]has become so popular here in Oaxaca?

0:02:34.977,0:02:36.160
The lack of money.

0:02:36.160,0:02:38.800
Salaries are very low.

0:02:38.800,0:02:41.144
If you want a proper breakfast,

0:02:41.144,0:02:44.170
like some eggs and coffee with milk,

0:02:44.170,0:02:47.844
you spend 45 - 50 pesos [$2 to $2.50].

0:02:47.844,0:02:51.412
If you buy this, it costs half of that.

0:02:52.304,0:02:56.871
Have you seen a change in sales[br]because of the prohibition

0:02:56.871,0:02:59.163
on selling junk food to kids?

0:02:59.163,0:03:02.270
No, I haven't seen it.

0:03:02.270,0:03:06.567
Sometimes the dad comes[br]with the shopping list

0:03:06.567,0:03:08.319
for what the kid wants.

0:03:09.885,0:03:14.531
When I go to the store,[br]I don't look at the nutrition labels.

0:03:14.531,0:03:17.145
The truth is I haven't looked at[br]the new labels.

0:03:17.145,0:03:19.202
I went to the pharmacy to buy a soda,

0:03:19.202,0:03:21.977
but they said they couldn't sell it to me

0:03:21.977,0:03:24.070
because I am underage.

0:03:25.332,0:03:27.512
(Emily) <i>There's some evidence[br]warning labels work.</i>

0:03:27.512,0:03:33.965
<i>Chile started requiring them in 2016[br]and the sale of sodas fell by nearly 25%.</i>

0:03:35.033,0:03:39.419
<i>But getting people to eat healthier,[br]could also require a cultural shift.</i>

0:03:39.419,0:03:44.954
(Emily) <i>Charlynne Curiel studies[br]people's eating habits.</i>

0:03:46.200,0:03:49.135
(Charlynne) There is [br]an association of status

0:03:49.135,0:03:51.831
that makes people think that [br][processed food] is better.

0:03:51.831,0:03:56.111
That is easier, make you more modern,

0:03:56.111,0:03:58.967
and that you've left traditions behind.

0:03:59.272,0:04:02.331
The prohibition [br]on selling junk food to minors,

0:04:02.331,0:04:04.468
what do you make of it?

0:04:05.152,0:04:06.246
It's necessary.

0:04:06.246,0:04:07.830
It is a step, just like the new labels.

0:04:07.830,0:04:09.485
These are important steps.

0:04:09.485,0:04:13.136
But I don't think they threaten[br]the interests of the industry.

0:04:13.136,0:04:16.879
As Oaxaca has become more well-known,

0:04:16.879,0:04:20.120
have local people here change their diets?

0:04:20.120,0:04:25.333
In the last few years, these products[br]have really flooded the market,

0:04:25.333,0:04:29.801
and because of how easy it is to consume[br]these hyper-processed foods,

0:04:29.801,0:04:31.919
they have an incredible reach.

0:04:31.919,0:04:35.585
So, anywhere in this state[br]where there is electricity,

0:04:35.585,0:04:37.854
you will find a refrigerator[br]with Coca-Cola.

0:04:39.346,0:04:42.115
It's time to eat! Let's eat!

0:04:43.948,0:04:47.686
(Emily) <i>The Garcia family lives [br]on the outskirts of Oaxaca City.</i>

0:04:47.686,0:04:50.193
<i>There's a long history of diabetes[br]in their family</i>

0:04:50.193,0:04:51.776
<i>and they're trying to eat healthier.</i>

0:04:53.763,0:04:55.766
(Raquel He can drink a little bit[br]if he wants.

0:04:56.337,0:04:58.550
(Emily) <i>But that demands[br]more money and time.</i>

0:05:05.980,0:05:07.404
(Emily) What are you cooking?

0:05:07.404,0:05:09.662
(Raquel) I'm making a chicken Milanese.

0:05:09.662,0:05:12.662
And I'll make zucchini with cheese.

0:05:16.880,0:05:18.901
Thank you for having me at the table.

0:05:18.901,0:05:19.551
For lunch.

0:05:21.766,0:05:24.248
(Rigoberto) Give her a spoon and a cup.

0:05:24.248,0:05:26.330
(Emily) What is the soup made with?

0:05:26.330,0:05:28.271
(Rigoberto) Pumpkin, tomato...

0:05:28.271,0:05:31.785
(Raquel) Tomato, onion, and cheese.

0:05:31.785,0:05:33.369
(Emily) A family recipe.

0:05:33.369,0:05:34.061
(Raquel) Yes.

0:05:34.955,0:05:40.148
A year ago or two, what would you[br]normally eat at lunch?

0:05:40.148,0:05:43.281
A lot of coke, but now[br]we have more water than coke.

0:05:43.281,0:05:46.432
We'd have one at lunch,[br]another for breakfast,

0:05:46.432,0:05:47.900
and another for dinner.

0:05:48.665,0:05:51.128
A big bottle just like the one[br]he brought over.

0:05:51.735,0:05:54.103
For you guys, was it hard[br]to change your diet?

0:05:54.103,0:05:55.018
Yes,

0:05:55.536,0:05:56.646
Why?

0:05:56.646,0:05:58.230
Because...

0:05:58.230,0:06:00.037
(Rigoberto) You were used to it.

0:06:00.037,0:06:02.661
I was used to having sugar.

0:06:02.661,0:06:04.752
Are you scared of becoming diabetic?

0:06:04.752,0:06:05.688
Yes.

0:06:07.735,0:06:09.531
(Luis) Because I have seen my dad.

0:06:09.531,0:06:11.060
(Rigoberto) And your grandpa.

0:06:11.060,0:06:12.012
(Luis) My grandpa.

0:06:16.001,0:06:19.345
What changed a year ago [br]that you decided that you had to

0:06:19.345,0:06:23.538
stop eating so much junk food[br]and stop drinking soft drinks?

0:06:23.538,0:06:28.734
The doctor told me that I had to change[br]my diet for my kids.

0:06:28.734,0:06:34.348
The doctor also said that[br]I can't eat too many fats or sugars

0:06:34.348,0:06:35.835
because of my gallbladder.

0:06:35.835,0:06:39.196
If I don't take care of myself,[br]I will need surgery.

0:06:39.196,0:06:42.953
(Emily) You change your diet[br]for your kids more than anything?

0:06:42.953,0:06:44.505
Yes, for the kids.