Bad to the bowl - if Mexico can ban sugary cereal ads aimed at kids, why can't we?Bad to the bowl - if Mexico can ban sugary cereal ads aimed at kids, why can't we?

If you take out military spending, it’s rare that you see a headline saying Americans are ahead of the curve on pretty much anything. Except, it would seem, promoting junk food, bad nutrition and expanding waistlines.

Even Mexico is taking steps the United States seems reluctant to take.

Wall Street Journal report. Commericals for soda, chips and candy are already barred from shows aimed at children under 12 and in January that prohibition will be extended to cereals and yogurts that don’t meet standards for sugar content.

This is already happening in Europe. It’s very much not happening in the United States. Any parent who has a cable subscription to Nickelodeon can probably sing more than a few sugary cereal jingles from memory. Can you name more junk food mascots or Supreme Court justices. Think about it ... Tony the Tiger, Count Chocula, Captain Crunch, Pebbles, Bam Bam, the Artist Formally Known as Sugar Bear*, Snap, Crackle AND Pop …

Mexico has recognized a diabetes epidemic and is doing something about it. The United States only sees an opportunity to sell more sugar. Nutrition education is important but it’s hard for kids to hear when that unbalanced bird is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and wants you to know about it.

*He's actually still known as Sugar Bear. But Super Sugar Crisp became Golden Crisp decades ago.