Ministry of Health Prepares Expo on Sugary Drink Ban

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is preparing to hold a health and nutrition expo to sensitize students about the upcoming ban on sugary drinks in schools. The expo is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7 at the Belize Civic Center. Nutritionist Robyn Daly-Faber explained that the project to phase out sugary drinks and promote healthy lifestyles is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. 

Discussions on phasing out sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks in schools began back in 2017. Cabinet approved the phase-out ban last year. Daly said that an official date for the full implementation has not been finalized, but that the ministry has been focusing on ensuring that all stakeholders are on board.

The planned phase-out forms a part of the Ministry’s approach to tackling the problem of non-communicable diseases in Belize. The ministry’s data showed that in 2021 non-communicable diseases represented three of the top five causes of death in the country. Those NCDs were heart disease, cancers, and diabetes.