0:00:00.710,0:00:05.416
I grew up in a place with a lot of food[br]that rich people called junk food.

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We didn't call it junk food.

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We just called it food.

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We went to one place in Mexico[br]taking bold steps

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to address the fact that nutrition[br]can be pretty damn expensive.

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

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Tlayudas that go with meat, [br]cheese, and lard

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are my favorite food.

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My favorite dish is black mole.

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Zucchini with cheese.

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(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>

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<i>An obesity and diabetes epidemic</i>

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<i>fueled by highly processed food.</i>

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BANNED FOOD

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(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% of its population[br]has diabetes.</i>

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<i>Mexico has one of the highest number[br]of diabetes cases in the world.</i>

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<i>It's the country's number one killer.</i>

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My favorite junk food is fried food.

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I like buying a lot of chips and soda.

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I love chips because they are very tasty.

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(Emily) <i>The government is trying to[br]tackle the problem.</i>

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<i>In October, new federal regulations [br]went into effect</i>

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<i>requiring black octagon labels [br]on food products,</i>

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<i>warning against high sugar, [br]salt, or fat content.</i>

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

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<i>The question is, will it work?</i>

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Four chocolate ones.

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So two, three, four.

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(Emily) <i>Mayra Hernandez runs[br]a corner store in Oaxaca City.</i>

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Do you think that the labels actually[br]make a difference in what people purchase?

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I don't think so.

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Client's don't give it much thought.

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As you can see here,

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these have the new labels,

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but people still take the same products.

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Why do you think junk food [br]has become so popular here in Oaxaca?

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The lack of money.

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Salaries are very low.

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If you want a proper breakfast,

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like some eggs and coffee with milk,

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you spend 45 - 50 pesos [$2 to $2.50].

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If you buy this, it costs half of that.

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Have you seen a change in sales[br]because of the prohibition

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on selling junk food to kids?

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No, I haven't seen it.

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Sometimes the dad comes[br]with the shopping list

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for what the kid wants.

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When I go to the store,[br]I don't look at the nutrition labels.

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The truth is I haven't looked at[br]the new labels.

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I went to the pharmacy to buy a soda,

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but they said they couldn't sell it to me

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because I am underage.

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(Emily) <i>There's some evidence[br]warning labels work.</i>

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<i>Chile started requiring them in 2016</i>

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<i>and the sale of sodas fell by nearly 25%.</i>

0:03:35.033,0:03:37.113
<i>But getting people to eat healthier</i>

0:03:37.113,0:03:39.419
<i>could also require a cultural shift.</i>

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<i>Charlynne Curiel studies[br]people's eating habits.</i>

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(Charlynne) There is [br]an association of status

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that makes people think that [br][processed food] is better.

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That is easier, makes you more modern,

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and that you've left traditions behind.

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The prohibition [br]on selling junk food to minors,

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what do you make of it?

0:04:03.872,0:04:04.885
It's necessary.

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It is a step, just like the new labels.

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These are important steps.

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But I don't think they threaten[br]the interests of the industry.

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As Oaxaca has become more well-known,

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have local people here change their diets?

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In the last few years, these products[br]have really flooded the market,

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and because of how easy it is to consume[br]these hyper-processed foods,

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they have an incredible reach.

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So, anywhere in this state[br]where there is electricity,

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you will find a refrigerator[br]with Coca-Cola.

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It's time to eat! Let's eat!

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(Emily) <i>The Garcia family lives [br]on the outskirts of Oaxaca City.</i>

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<i>There's a long history of diabetes[br]in their family</i>

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<i>and they're trying to eat healthier.</i>

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(Raquel He can drink a little bit[br]if he wants.

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(Emily) <i>But that demands[br]more money and time.</i>

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(Emily) What are you cooking?

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(Raquel) I'm making a chicken Milanese.

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And I'll make zucchini with cheese.

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Thank you for having me at the table.

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For lunch.

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(Rigoberto) Give her a spoon and a cup.

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(Emily) What is the soup made with?

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(Rigoberto) Pumpkin, tomato...

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(Raquel) Tomato, onion, and cheese.

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(Emily) A family recipe.

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(Raquel) Yes.

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(Emily) A year ago or two,[br]what would you normally eat at lunch?

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A lot of coke, but now[br]we have more water than coke.

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We'd have one at lunch,[br]another for breakfast,

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and another for dinner.

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A big bottle just like the one[br]he brought over.

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For you guys, was it hard[br]to change your diet?

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Yes,

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(Emily) Why?

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Because...

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(Rigoberto) You were used to it.

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I was used to having sugar.

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Are you scared of becoming diabetic?

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

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(Luis) Because I have seen my dad.

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(Rigoberto) And your grandpa.

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(Luis) My grandpa.

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What changed a year ago [br]that you decided that you had to

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stop eating so much junk food[br]and stop drinking soft drinks?

0:06:23.738,0:06:28.364
The doctor told me that I had to change[br]my diet for my kids.

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The doctor also said that[br]I can't eat too many fats or sugars

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because of my gallbladder.

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If I don't take care of myself,[br]I will need surgery.

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(Emily) You change your diet[br]for your kids more than anything?

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Yes, for the kids.