Los ultraprocesados como cuestión sociocientífica. Una experiencia en la formación ciudadana en las Instituciones Educativas de Puerto Guadalupe y Barranca de Upía, Meta.

Abstract

Currently, the consumption of ultra-processed foods has emerged as a global public health issue due to its strong link to chronic diseases and mental health disorders. The situation in Colombia is alarming; recent data indicate that the vast majority of the school-age population regularly consumes packaged snacks and sugary drinks. Driven by aggressive marketing strategies and capitalist market dynamics, the food industry has transformed the act of eating into a desire shaped by social influences and advertising, thereby undermining food sovereignty and freedom of choice from childhood onwards. These issues will be explored across three chapters: Consumption practices regarding ultra-processed foods, Regulations governing the consumption of ultra-processed foods, and Citizens, not consumers. These sections allow us to examine consumption patterns at the Puerto Guadalupe and Francisco Walter educational institutions in the Department of Meta and, based on this analysis, develop strategies for implementation within these schools.