Global trade agreements have shaped the food system in ways that alter the availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability of ready-to-eat foods. We assessed the time trends of ultra-processed foods purchases in Mexican households from 1984 to 2016. Cross-sectional data from 15 rounds of the National Income and Expenditure Survey (1984, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016) were analyzed. Food and beverage purchases collected in a daily record instrument (over seven days) were classified according to their degree of processing according to the NOVA food framework: (1) Unprocessed or minimally processed foods; (2) processed culinary ingredients; (3) processed foods; and (4) ultra-processed foods. From 1984 to 2016, the total daily energy purchased decreased from 2428.8 to 1875.4 kcal/Adult Equivalent/day, there was a decrease of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (from 69.8% to 61.4% kcal) and processed culinary ingredients (from 14.0% to 9.0% kcal), and an increase of processed foods (from 5.7% to 6.5% kcal) and ultra-processed foods (from 10.5% to 23.1% kcal). Given that ultra-processed foods purchases have doubled in the last three decades and unprocessed or minimally processed foods purchased have gradually declined, future strategies should promote the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, and discourage ultra-processed foods availability and accessibility in Mexico.

In 2014, an 8% tax on energy-dense nutrient-poor foods was implemented in Mexico with the aim of reducing its consumption. This paper estimated changes in household purchases of taxed food. We used the latest five waves of the nationally representative Mexican Income and Expenditure Survey (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016). The analytic sample comprises 154,777 households. We estimated changes based on a before and after comparison. Results show a reduction in purchases of taxed food of −5.4 grams/week per capita, equivalent to a relative reduction of −5.3% in the 2014 and 2016 waves compared to the 2008, 2010 and 2012 rounds. The largest relative reductions were in urban areas (−6.9%), among households with children (−7.0%), households where the head had an intermediate educational level (−9.9%) and the southern region (−14.8%). We did not find a significant reduction in rural areas. While there is a large heterogeneity, the fiscal instrument has been effective in reducing taxed food purchases and has generated substantial revenue that could be used to finance policies for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

No abstract

Objetivo. Evaluar cambios en la magnitud de la inseguridad alimentaria (IA) en hogares mexicanos en pobreza, en el periodo entre 2012 y 2018 y analizar la asociación entre IA y acceso, disponibilidad y consumo de alimentos. Material y métodos. Se incluyó información de 4 464 hogares de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición en localidades de México con menos de 100 000 habitantes (Ensanut 100k). La IA se midió con la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria. El acceso y la disponibilidad se anali­zaron con gasto en alimentos, mientras que el consumo se analizó con la diversidad de la dieta en mujeres. Se estimó la asociación entre IA y gasto en alimentos y la asociación entre IA y diversidad de la dieta con modelos de regresión logística múltiple. Resultados. La IA moderada y severa se mantuvo en 43% entre 2012 y 2018. Mayor gasto en azúcar, aceite y comida fuera de casa, así como el consumo de carnes y lácteos, se asociaron con menor posibilidad de IA. Conclusión. Es importante integrar distintas dimensiones de la IA para forta­lecer su medición y monitoreo.

In January 2014, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and nonessential energy-dense food were implemented in Mexico to discourage the consumption of these products. Published evaluations have shown reductions in purchases of taxed food and beverages associated with the implementation of this fiscal policy. Although there are some studies on the impact on health based on simulation studies, no evaluations with empirical data on changes in oral health have been published. We used administrative records and data from an epidemiological surveillance system to estimate changes in (1) outpatient visits related to dental caries; (2) having experienced dental caries: Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) >0 for permanent dentition or dmft >0 for primary dentition (dmft); (3) number of teeth with caries experience (DMFT and dmft), (4) cases with DMFT >0 or dmft >0, and (5) the series of mean DMFT or dmft, associated with the taxes. We estimated probit and negative binomial models for outcomes at individual level, and interrupted time series analysis for population-level outcomes. The implementation of the taxes was associated with negative changes in the trends of outpatient visits, as well as for cases with DMFT >0, dmft >0 and mean DMFT. Taxes were also associated with a lower probability of having experienced dental caries and with a lower number of teeth with caries experience in the samples studied. Our results suggest positive impacts of the implementation of taxes on unhealthy food and beverages in the oral health of Mexicans, which are the first health benefits observed, and add to the health benefits predicted by modeling studies.