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I grew up in a place with a lot of food
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
taking bold steps

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

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

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Tlayudas that go with meat, 
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>

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<i>Thousands of tourists 
flocked to the city's restaurants</i>

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<i>confirming its standing
as a global food Mecca.</i>

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<i>But this phenomenon masks a major
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
are overweight and obese</i>

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<i>and more than 10% of its population
has diabetes.</i>

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<i>Mexico has one of the highest number
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
tackle the problem.</i>

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

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

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

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<i>The state of Oaxaca,
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
a corner store in Oaxaca City.</i>

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Do you think that the labels actually
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 
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
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
with the shopping list

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for what the kid wants.

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

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The truth is I haven't looked at
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
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>

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<i>But getting people to eat healthier</i>

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<i>could also require a cultural shift.</i>

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

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(Charlynne) There is 
an association of status

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that makes people think that 
[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 
on selling junk food to minors,

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what do you make of it?

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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
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
have really flooded the market,

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

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they have an incredible reach.

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So, anywhere in this state
where there is electricity,

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you will find a refrigerator
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 
on the outskirts of Oaxaca City.</i>

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<i>There's a long history of diabetes
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
if he wants.

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(Emily) <i>But that demands
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,
what would you normally eat at lunch?

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

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We'd have one at lunch,
another for breakfast,

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and another for dinner.

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A big bottle just like the one
he brought over.

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For you guys, was it hard
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?

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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 
that you decided that you had to

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stop eating so much junk food
and stop drinking soft drinks?

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The doctor told me that I had to change
my diet for my kids.

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The doctor also said that
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,
I will need surgery.

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

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Yes, for the kids.