9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I grew up in a place with a lot of food[br]that rich people called junk food.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We didn't call it junk food.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We just called it food.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We went to one place in Mexico[br]taking bold steps

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to address the fact that nutrition[br]can be pretty damn expensive.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>In Oaxaca, food is a vital part of[br]tradition, ritual, and community.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Tlayudas that go with meat, [br]cheese, and lard

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
are my favorite food.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
My favorite dish is black mole.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Zucchini with cheese.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>And more recently business.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Thousands of tourists [br]flocked to the city's restaurants</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>confirming its standing[br]as a global food Mecca.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>But this phenomenon masks a major[br]and growing problem among locals.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>An obesity and diabetes epidemic</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>fueled by highly processed food.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
BANNED FOOD

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>One third of kids in Mexico[br]are overweight and obese</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and more than 10% of its population[br]has diabetes.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Mexico has one of the highest number[br]of diabetes cases in the world.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>It's the country's number one killer.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
My favorite junk food is fried food.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I like buying a lot of chips and soda.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I love chips because they are very tasty.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>The government is trying to[br]tackle the problem.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>In October, new federal regulations [br]went into effect</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>requiring black octagon labels [br]on food products,</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>warning against high sugar, [br]salt, or fat content.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The state of Oaxaca,[br]also ban the sale of junk food to kids.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>The question is, will it work?</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Four chocolate ones.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So two, three, four.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>Mayra Hernandez runs[br]a corner store in Oaxaca City.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Do you think that the labels actually[br]make a difference in what people purchase?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I don't think so.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Client's don't give it much thought.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
As you can see here,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
these have the new labels,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but people still take the same products.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Why do you think junk food [br]has become so popular here in Oaxaca?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The lack of money.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Salaries are very low.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
If you want a proper breakfast,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
like some eggs and coffee with milk,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you spend 45 - 50 pesos [$2 to $2.50].

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
If you buy this, it costs half of that.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Have you seen a change in sales[br]because of the prohibition

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on selling junk food to kids?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
No, I haven't seen it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Sometimes the dad comes[br]with the shopping list

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for what the kid wants.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When I go to the store,[br]I don't look at the nutrition labels.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The truth is I haven't looked at[br]the new labels.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I went to the pharmacy to buy a soda,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but they said they couldn't sell it to me

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because I am underage.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>There's some evidence[br]warning labels work.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Chile started requiring them in 2016</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and the sale of sodas fell by nearly 25%.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>But getting people to eat healthier</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>could also require a cultural shift.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>Charlynne Curiel studies[br]people's eating habits.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Charlynne) There is [br]an association of status

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that makes people think that [br][processed food] is better.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That is easier, makes you more modern,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that you've left traditions behind.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The prohibition [br]on selling junk food to minors,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what do you make of it?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's necessary.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It is a step, just like the new labels.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
These are important steps.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
But I don't think they threaten[br]the interests of the industry.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
As Oaxaca has become more well-known,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
have local people here change their diets?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
In the last few years, these products[br]have really flooded the market,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and because of how easy it is to consume[br]these hyper-processed foods,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they have an incredible reach.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, anywhere in this state[br]where there is electricity,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
you will find a refrigerator[br]with Coca-Cola.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's time to eat! Let's eat!

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>The Garcia family lives [br]on the outskirts of Oaxaca City.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>There's a long history of diabetes[br]in their family</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
<i>and they're trying to eat healthier.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Raquel He can drink a little bit[br]if he wants.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) <i>But that demands[br]more money and time.</i>

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) What are you cooking?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Raquel) I'm making a chicken Milanese.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And I'll make zucchini with cheese.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Thank you for having me at the table.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
For lunch.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Rigoberto) Give her a spoon and a cup.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) What is the soup made with?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Rigoberto) Pumpkin, tomato...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Raquel) Tomato, onion, and cheese.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) A family recipe.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Raquel) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) A year ago or two,[br]what would you normally eat at lunch?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
A lot of coke, but now[br]we have more water than coke.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We'd have one at lunch,[br]another for breakfast,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and another for dinner.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
A big bottle just like the one[br]he brought over.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
For you guys, was it hard[br]to change your diet?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yes,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) Why?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Because...

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Rigoberto) You were used to it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I was used to having sugar.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Are you scared of becoming diabetic?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Luis) Because I have seen my dad.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Rigoberto) And your grandpa.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Luis) My grandpa.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What changed a year ago [br]that you decided that you had to

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
stop eating so much junk food[br]and stop drinking soft drinks?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The doctor told me that I had to change[br]my diet for my kids.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The doctor also said that[br]I can't eat too many fats or sugars

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because of my gallbladder.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
If I don't take care of myself,[br]I will need surgery.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Emily) You change your diet[br]for your kids more than anything?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Yes, for the kids.