Health groups file complaint against sugary products marketed for Mexican school lunches

The Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria (ASA) has filed a formal complaint with Cofepris regarding 31 food and beverage products marketed as “ideal for school lunches.” Based on a monitoring study conducted by El Poder del Consumidor between July and August 2026, the organizations warn that these products—including juices, nectars, flavored milks, yogurts, and gelatins—may be evading nutritional warning label regulations (NOM-051).

The report highlights that some brands use fruit concentrates or pulps to list ingredients under “total sugars” rather than “added sugars,” a maneuver intended to avoid mandatory warning seals. For instance, a 500 ml apple juice was found to contain approximately 13 teaspoons of sugar, exceeding the 10 teaspoons found in a 500 ml serving of a traditional cola.

Additionally, the study identified the use of additives such as lactase in 70% of analyzed milks and yogurts, and synthetic sweeteners or fibers like allulose and inulin in 100% of the beverages and desserts. The organizations are requesting that Cofepris enforce the precautionary principle, verify correct labeling, and ensure that products failing to comply are excluded from school premises.