Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
Mexico health ministry rejects claims of poor food at pediatric hospital
Videos shared online appeared to show spoiled food, damaged fruit, cockroaches and standing water in the workers’ dining area at Mexico’s National Institute of Pediatrics.
The Health Ministry denied that the food is poor quality, saying supplies are checked daily and meet health rules.
The institute’s workers’ kitchen has been under repair since September 25, with completion expected on October 18.
Only cold, packaged meals are being served there during repairs.
The institute says it fumigates the kitchen and dining areas regularly.
It also says meals for hospitalized children are prepared under food-hygiene rules and checked by nutrition staff.
The institute says workers can file complaints without facing reprisals.
Mexico’s Health Ministry rejected claims that food served at the National Institute of Pediatrics is of poor quality.
The claims followed social media videos showing food that appeared spoiled, damaged fruit, cockroaches and standing water near a kitchen drain.
The ministry said supplies are received daily under quality controls and meet applicable health rules.
The workers’ dining-room kitchen has been undergoing corrective maintenance since September 25, with work expected to finish on October 18.
During the repairs, the dining service is temporarily serving only cold, packaged food.
- Who
- Mexico’s Health Ministry and the National Institute of Pediatrics responded to claims raised in videos shared on social media.
- What
- The ministry rejected claims of poor-quality food at the hospital. The videos showed apparent sanitation problems in the workers’ dining room.
- When
- The kitchen has been under corrective maintenance since September 25, with completion expected on October 18. The article was published October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico.
- Why
- Videos circulated showing food that appeared spoiled and other alleged sanitation problems.
Mexico’s Health Ministry and National Institute of Pediatrics
Social media complainants
Food quality
Mexico’s Health Ministry and National Institute of Pediatrics
The ministry said food supplies meet applicable health rules, and the institute said food served on its premises is of good quality.
Social media complainants
Videos showed food that appeared spoiled and damaged fruit.
Kitchen hygiene
Mexico’s Health Ministry and National Institute of Pediatrics
The institute said it carries out periodic fumigation and maintains hygiene controls.
Social media complainants
Videos showed cockroaches and standing water near a drain in the kitchen.
Corrective maintenance began in the workers’ dining-room kitchen.
El Financiero published the report on the ministry’s response to the claims.
The kitchen repairs were expected to be completed.
- Facility
- National Institute of Pediatrics (INP)
- Maintenance began
- September 25
- Expected completion
- October 18
- Temporary dining service
- Cold, packaged food only
- Food-safety standard
- NOM-251-SSA1-2009