The Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, Ruy López Ridaura, described the alliance network between governments in the region to advance this task.

He explained that the Latin American region faces an epidemic of chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition, which represents a great burden on the health and well-being of families and health systems.

Furthermore, it puts the economic development of the region at risk and makes it difficult for the Sustainable Development Goals to be met in 2030.

The evidence accumulated in the last 20 years shows the close relationship between the food system and chronic diseases -obesity, diabetes or hypertension- as a consequence of the high consumption of ultra-processed products or junk food.

He reported that this network decided to focus its first efforts on intersectoral work plans for the transformation of food systems, exchange perspectives and share experiences.

The network will define a position to promote international actions to control the consumption of ultra-processed products, which replace healthy diets.

López Ridaura ratified Mexico’s commitment to stimulating multisectoral, inclusive and coordinated work to advance in correcting the imbalance of powers in decision-making related to human and planetary health.

This international meeting was organized by the Ministry of Health and had the participation of other sectors of the Mexican government, in addition to interventions by authorities from the region of Chile, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru and Uruguay.

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