Mexico's law on healthy and sustainable diets leads the way in food policy

Mexico has introduced a law that enshrines the constitutional right to nutritious, sufficient and quality food in a legislative framework. While previous policies have focussed in on single issues in the food system, such as food insecurity, this new law's ambitious scope addresses the entire food system.

Elisa Pineda, writing for The Lancet, said:

[Mexico is] positioning as a global leader in food policy, with the most progressive approach in this area to date.

Some key elements on domestic food policy include: 

• A mandate to define national food policy under the framework of this law, 
• A national free school lunch program,
• And an emphasis on food sovereignty and consumption of domestically produced agricultural products.

El Poder del Consumidor, a non-profit organisation dedicated to defending consumer rights, responded positively to the new law, saying:

"Regulating the right to food is essential to reverse the serious problem of national food health, which claims so many lives year after year. It brings us closer to food sovereignty and self-sufficiency and contributes to achieving the sustainability so eagerly sought at a time when the impact of climate change is so visible"

Bridging the Gap’s policy review, published by Sustain last month, also identifies policies internationally that fully or partially ‘bridge the gap’ between people who experience low income and climate and nature friendly food. The review assesses policies that aim to create access to healthy and sustainable diets via a number of policy areas with the aim of enabling access or stimulating supply. 

Bridging the Gap Programme Manager, Hannah Gibbs said:

'It’s encouraging to see other countries putting in place laws which have real potential to create the changes we need to see to the food system. By acknowledging the right to healthy AND sustainable food, Mexico is setting the stage for shifts that can help combat climate change and support healthier diets.'

Closer to home the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy includes measures to meet climate and nature goals. Though ultimately shelved, the UK's National Food Strategy proposed to tackle food related health inequalities. Most recently the Good Food Nation consultation concluded in Scotland, with a plan expected to be put into place in 2025. Under this new Act, Scotland will be the first UK nation to have a national food plan. If this plan is done well, then it will be a very positive step towards a better food system in Scotland. However, Nourish Scotland warns: 

The passing of this Bill warrants much celebration, but the work really starts when these plans roll out. 

While there are positive steps being taken in the UK to move towards whole food system policy change, as Elisa Pineda notes, none integrate NCD prevention and sustainability as comprehensively as Mexico's new law.

Find out more about Bridging the Gap’s policy review.

Find out more about the pilots that Bridging the Gap is delivering.

Find out more about Food for the Planet.