As of Monday, March 31, the federal government’s “Live Healthy” program has officially come into effect, prohibiting the sale of junk food in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as universities across the country.

The initiative aims to combat rising childhood obesity rates by promoting healthy eating habits. Schools that allow the sale of junk food in their cafeterias or school cooperatives will be subject to fines and sanctions.

To implement this initiative, the federal government established general guidelines for the preparation, distribution, and sale of food and beverages in school cafeterias and cooperatives.

These documents detail the approved nutritious foods that may be sold, as well as a list of banned junk food items.

A complementary nutrition guide for parents was also created, offering recommendations to encourage healthy eating at home.

Currently, compliance with these guidelines is strictly mandatory for school campuses. School administrators are directly responsible, with penalties ranging from hefty fines to potential temporary suspension of operations.

The measure does not apply to street vendors selling junk food near school premises. However, school officials are responsible for requesting assistance from local authorities to keep such vendors at a distance.

While some academics support the measure as a step in the right direction, they have pointed out inconsistencies—particularly the lack of efforts to promote healthy eating within the home.

Administrators, for instance, cannot regulate what food children bring from home, even if it includes junk food, as doing so would infringe upon the rights of minors and their families to make personal dietary choices.

For example, if a child brings chips for recess, school staff cannot prohibit it, as the rule only applies to food sold on school grounds. This aspect of the program could also have financial implications.

According to teachers and education officials, school cooperatives typically enter agreements with school administrations, giving them a percentage of the sales.

These funds are often used to cover operational expenses or small improvement projects not addressed by educational authorities.

In schools with more 1,000 students, these commissions can amount to more than 50,000 pesos (approx. USD 3,000) per month—revenue that could be at risk if sales decline under the new healthy food policy.