1 00:00:00,870 --> 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 00:00:16,984 --> 00:00:25,561 (Emily) In Oaxaca, food is a vital part of tradition, ritual, and community. 7 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:38,519 Tlayudas that go with meat, cheese, and lard 8 00:00:38,519 --> 00:00:40,065 are my favorite food. 9 00:00:40,065 --> 00:00:41,651 My favorite dish is black mole. 10 00:00:41,651 --> 00:00:43,046 Zucchini with cheese. 11 00:00:44,587 --> 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 --> 00:01:04,883 An obesity and diabetes epidemic fueled by highly processed food. 16 00:01:13,113 --> 00:01:15,211 BANNED FOOD 17 00:01:16,729 --> 00:01:19,894 (Emily) One third of kids in Mexico are overweight and obese 18 00:01:19,894 --> 00:01:23,102 and more than 10 percent of its population has diabetes. 19 00:01:23,102 --> 00:01:27,244 Mexico has one of the highest number of diabetes cases in the world. 20 00:01:27,244 --> 00:01:29,592 It's the country's number one killer. 21 00:01:29,592 --> 00:01:32,549 My favorite junk food is fried food. 22 00:01:32,549 --> 00:01:36,518 I like buying a lot of chips and soda. 23 00:01:36,518 --> 00:01:39,650 I love chips because they are very tasty. 24 00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:42,932 (Emily) The government is trying to tackle the problem. 25 00:01:42,932 --> 00:01:46,233 In October, new federal regulations went into effect, 26 00:01:46,233 --> 00:01:49,651 requiring black octagon labels on food products, 27 00:01:49,651 --> 00:01:53,531 warning against high sugar, salt, or fat content. 28 00:01:53,531 --> 00:01:57,766 The state of Oaxaca, also ban the sale of junk food to kids. 29 00:01:57,766 --> 00:01:59,011 The question is, will it work? 30 00:02:01,334 --> 00:02:03,213 Four chocolate ones. 31 00:02:03,213 --> 00:02:04,830 So two, three, four. 32 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:07,500 (Emily) Mayra Hernandez runs a corner store in Oaxaca City. 33 00:02:07,943 --> 00:02:12,583 Do you think that the labels actually make a difference in what people purchase? 34 00:02:12,583 --> 00:02:14,220 I don't think so. 35 00:02:14,220 --> 00:02:19,665 Client's don't give it much thought. 36 00:02:19,665 --> 00:02:21,513 As you can see here, 37 00:02:21,513 --> 00:02:25,770 these have the new labels, 38 00:02:25,770 --> 00:02:31,019 but people still take the same products. 39 00:02:31,019 --> 00:02:34,977 What do you think junk food has become so popular here in Oaxaca? 40 00:02:34,977 --> 00:02:36,160 The lack of money. 41 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,800 Salaries are very low. 42 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,144 If you want a proper breakfast, 43 00:02:41,144 --> 00:02:44,170 like some eggs and coffee with milk, 44 00:02:44,170 --> 00:02:47,844 you spend 45 - 50 pesos [$2 to $2.50]. 45 00:02:47,844 --> 00:02:51,412 If you buy this, it costs half of that. 46 00:02:52,304 --> 00:02:56,871 Have you seen a change in sales because of the prohibition 47 00:02:56,871 --> 00:02:59,163 on selling junk food to kids? 48 00:02:59,163 --> 00:03:02,270 No, I haven't seen it. 49 00:03:02,270 --> 00:03:06,567 Sometimes the dad comes with the shopping list 50 00:03:06,567 --> 00:03:08,319 for what the kid wants. 51 00:03:09,885 --> 00:03:14,531 When I go to the store, I don't look at the nutrition labels. 52 00:03:14,531 --> 00:03:17,145 The truth is I haven't looked at the new labels. 53 00:03:17,145 --> 00:03:19,202 I went to the pharmacy to buy a soda, 54 00:03:19,202 --> 00:03:21,977 but they said they couldn't sell it to me 55 00:03:21,977 --> 00:03:24,070 because I am underage. 56 00:03:25,332 --> 00:03:27,512 (Emily) There's some evidence warning labels work. 57 00:03:27,512 --> 00:03:33,965 Chile started requiring them in 2016 and the sale of sodas fell by nearly 25%. 58 00:03:35,033 --> 00:03:39,419 But getting people to eat healthier, could also require a cultural shift. 59 00:03:39,419 --> 00:03:44,954 (Emily) Charlynne Curiel studies people's eating habits. 60 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,135 (Charlynne) There is an association of status 61 00:03:49,135 --> 00:03:51,831 that makes people think that [processed food] is better. 62 00:03:51,831 --> 00:03:56,111 That is easier, make you more modern, 63 00:03:56,111 --> 00:03:58,967 and that you've left traditions behind. 64 00:03:59,272 --> 00:04:02,331 The prohibition on selling junk food to minors, 65 00:04:02,331 --> 00:04:04,468 what do you make of it? 66 00:04:05,152 --> 00:04:06,246 It's necessary. 67 00:04:06,246 --> 00:04:07,830 It is a step, just like the new labels. 68 00:04:07,830 --> 00:04:09,485 These are important steps. 69 00:04:09,485 --> 00:04:13,136 But I don't think they threaten the interests of the industry. 70 00:04:13,136 --> 00:04:16,879 As Oaxaca has become more well-known, 71 00:04:16,879 --> 00:04:20,120 have local people here change their diets? 72 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:25,333 In the last few years, these products have really flooded the market, 73 00:04:25,333 --> 00:04:29,801 and because of how easy it is to consume these hyper-processed foods, 74 00:04:29,801 --> 00:04:31,919 they have an incredible reach. 75 00:04:31,919 --> 00:04:35,585 So, anywhere in this state where there is electricity, 76 00:04:35,585 --> 00:04:37,854 you will find a refrigerator with Coca-Cola. 77 00:04:39,346 --> 00:04:42,115 It's time to eat! Let's eat! 78 00:04:43,948 --> 00:04:47,686 (Emily) The Garcia family lives on the outskirts of Oaxaca City. 79 00:04:47,686 --> 00:04:50,193 There's a long history of diabetes in their family 80 00:04:50,193 --> 00:04:51,776 and they're trying to eat healthier. 81 00:04:53,763 --> 00:04:55,766 (Raquel He can drink a little bit if he wants. 82 00:04:56,337 --> 00:04:58,550 (Emily) But that demands more money and time. 83 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:07,404 (Emily) What are you cooking? 84 00:05:07,404 --> 00:05:09,662 (Raquel) I'm making a chicken Milanese. 85 00:05:09,662 --> 00:05:12,662 And I'll make zucchini with cheese. 86 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,901 Thank you for having me at the table. 87 00:05:18,901 --> 00:05:19,551 For lunch. 88 00:05:21,766 --> 00:05:24,248 (Rigoberto) Give her a spoon and a cup. 89 00:05:24,248 --> 00:05:26,330 (Emily) What is the soup made with? 90 00:05:26,330 --> 00:05:28,271 (Rigoberto) Pumpkin, tomato... 91 00:05:28,271 --> 00:05:31,785 (Raquel) Tomato, onion, and cheese. 92 00:05:31,785 --> 00:05:33,369 (Emily) A family recipe. 93 00:05:33,369 --> 00:05:34,061 (Raquel) Yes. 94 00:05:34,955 --> 00:05:40,148 A year ago or two, what would you normally eat at lunch? 95 00:05:40,148 --> 00:05:43,281 A lot of coke, but now we have more water than coke. 96 00:05:43,281 --> 00:05:46,432 We'd have one at lunch, another for breakfast, 97 00:05:46,432 --> 00:05:47,900 and another for dinner. 98 00:05:48,665 --> 00:05:51,128 A big bottle just like the one he brought over. 99 00:05:51,735 --> 00:05:54,103 For you guys, was it hard to change your diet? 100 00:05:54,103 --> 00:05:55,018 Yes, 101 00:05:55,536 --> 00:05:56,646 Why? 102 00:05:56,646 --> 00:05:58,230 Because... 103 00:05:58,230 --> 00:06:00,037 (Rigoberto) You were used to it. 104 00:06:00,037 --> 00:06:02,661 I was used to having sugar. 105 00:06:02,661 --> 00:06:04,752 Are you scared of becoming diabetic? 106 00:06:04,752 --> 00:06:05,688 Yes. 107 00:06:07,735 --> 00:06:09,531 (Luis) Because I have seen my dad. 108 00:06:09,531 --> 00:06:11,060 (Rigoberto) And your grandpa. 109 00:06:11,060 --> 00:06:12,012 (Luis) My grandpa. 110 00:06:16,001 --> 00:06:19,345 What changed a year ago that you decided that you had to 111 00:06:19,345 --> 00:06:23,538 stop eating so much junk food and stop drinking soft drinks? 112 00:06:23,538 --> 00:06:28,734 The doctor told me that I had to change my diet for my kids. 113 00:06:28,734 --> 00:06:34,348 The doctor also said that I can't eat too many fats or sugars 114 00:06:34,348 --> 00:06:35,835 because of my gallbladder. 115 00:06:35,835 --> 00:06:39,196 If I don't take care of myself, I will need surgery. 116 00:06:39,196 --> 00:06:42,953 (Emily) You change your diet for your kids more than anything? 117 00:06:42,953 --> 00:06:44,505 Yes, for the kids.