Junk food ban in effect
The nationwide ban on selling junk food in and around elementary schools came into force last week.
Regarding possible sanctions for non-compliance, Jalisco Education Secretary Flores Miramontes clarified that COFEPRIS, Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks, will be responsible for enforcing the restriction.
School breakfast program
The Jalisco Family Development Agency (DIF) announced that in 2025, it will allocate 387,585,120 pesos (US$19.3 million) to provide breakfasts for nearly 230,000 students in highly marginalized areas of the state. More than 95% of students will receive hot meals prepared on school premises. The nutritional program includes a 250-milliliter portion of skim milk, a main course containing two to four servings of whole grains, a variety of legumes, at least one protein of animal origin, and seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. DIF stated that the program will be administered through its municipal branches and aims to reach at least 6,478 preschool, primary, and secondary schools.
Walmart continuesto expand
Walmart’s Mexico unit, Walmex, plans to invest more than US$6 billion this year, three times more than the previous year, Chief Executive Officer Ignacio Caride has announced. This investment is expected to generate nearly 5,500 direct jobs, he said. Walmex is one of Mexico’s largest private employers. As of December 31, 2023, the company employed 216,336 people, including 210,948 full-time and 5,388 part-time staff, according to stockanalysis.com.
Army to build hospitals
President Claudia Sheinbaum is continuing her predecessor’s policy of assigning Mexico’s armed forces increasing civic duties. The Ministry of Defense (SEDENA) will oversee the construction of seven new Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) hospitals in Nuevo León, Sonora, Morelos, Coahuila, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas, she announced. “The hospitals will benefit 2.9 million people … and each will create between 10,000 and 20,000 direct jobs,” Sheinbaum stated.