World Heart Federation supports maintaining the tax on food and beverages which are driving up obesity in Mexico.To this end we have released a letter to all Mexican Senators in support of maintaining the country’s tax on sugary drinks and junk food.
Mexicans are amongst the world’s biggest drinkers of sugary drinks and the country has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, with nearly two-thirds of the population considered obese or overweight, according to the World Health Organization. In 2014, Mexico introduced the 10% tax which saw annual sugary drink sales fall by 6%. Then on 19 October, the country’s lower house of Congress agreed to reduce the 10% tax to a 5% rate on drinks with 5 grams or less of added sugar per 100 milliliters.
After a public outcry and many organizations, including the World Heart Federation, lending their support via public letter, 29 October, the Mexican Congress voted both in the Senate and the lower House to maintain a 10% excise tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages.
The World Heart Federation’s own updated statement and position on Childhood Obesity will be available shortly
