With 18 votes in favor, one against and one abstention, the senators present approved the draft agreement, through which the Executive is requested to, if it pleases, adopt measures to prevent the beneficiaries of the Scholarship of Food for Higher Education (BAES) acquire “junk food” at the expense of this benefit.

The text explains that the BAES is “a subsidy delivered by the National Board of School Aid and Scholarships (JUNAEB) and operated by Sodexo, intended for higher education students who are between the first and sixth decile of income, who attend from their first year of the degree until graduation.”

Thus it is detailed that “the card can be used in 13 thousand associated stores, where students can buy food and products in a large number of fast food stores, supermarkets, minimarkets, casinos and more. The Junaeb Sodexo card can be used in any region of the country, as long as it is in associated stores, online or in person.”

The draft agreement recognizes the obesity and overweight epidemic of the Chilean population, which is why it warns how inconvenient it is for young people to be able to “freely” buy foods high in fat, salt, sugar and calories using this state benefit. Hence, it is advocated to promote measures that prevent this type of consumption that is harmful to health.