Job Discussion Forums

[cgage]

I know about tap water, icecubes, streetstands, and unclean restaurants.
More specifically, is it safe to eat things like melons and bananas that have skins? What about coffee? Rice and other stuff cooked in water? ( I understand that water has to boil a long time to become safe)
Your comments are appreciated.
PS Not worried about crime, I already live in the #2 murder capitol of the US and wear a pistol when i cut my grass. Mexico will be a welcome relief.

[ls650]

I think it's really impossible to answer this question. Some people have strong stomaches and some don't. I don't worry much about being careful with my food, and in three years in Mexico I've had next to zero problems, yet some of my co-workers who are extremely cautious get sick all the time.

So how strong is your stomach?

[sunrader]

Where I've been in Mexico most people either buy bottled water or use drops from most any store to purify it. Boiling it takes too much fuel. The bottled got expensive and tedious in my opinion, so I went for the drops when there for many months. That works very well, just add ten drops or so to a gallon of tap water, wait 15 minutes or so. No problem. I've used a filter on short trips, too. Keep immodium on hand and take one as soon as you feel any cramps; you can get pretty sick if you let it go on. You can eat the melons and such but should wash the outside before cutting into them. You can also soak any fruits or vegetables in a stronger water/purifier solution. I've had no problems with street food, but avoid street drinks. I'd risk it in most restaurants. Brush teeth with bottled or purified water, too.

It's not that the tap water is never treated, it's just that you can't be sure when it is or isn't. Some places have a lot of minerals, like magnesium, in the water, and some people get sick from that rather than the bacteria.

[hlamb]

I followed all of the precautions when I first arrived in Mexico and got sick almost right away (though I think that was more related to the heat). I've slowly relaxed what I do and have been fine. I drink bottled water and wash all fruits and veggies in clean water before eating them. I don't use the purifying drops. I do eat at street stalls and drink certain things on the street but not that often. From what I've seen in some restaurants, I'm not sure that they are any cleaner! As ls said, it really depends on the person, but I do think you develop an "immunity" of some type if you are here for a while.

[El Gallo]

I think the most important thing is constant hand washing. Many Mexican food items like tacos are eaten by hand so it's important to wash hands first, especially after handling money. Putting lime on the taco meat can also help because the acid kills some bacteria. I think it takes time for the stomach to get use to change in diet and ambient bacteria so plan on some Montezuma's revenge. This can be serious so drink a lot of purified water to prevent dehydration and get some antibiotics ahead of time for this. Some think Imodium is bad because it blocks the elimination of the bacteria from your body. Now when I go to the US or Canada, I get sick from the change to the food there. too.

[MELEE]

[kosherpickle]

watermelons have been the only thing to get me sick so far as i can tell.
delicious jerks.

[danielita]

[Gary Denness]

I think there are few people who stay in Mexico any length of time and avoid Montezuma's revenge. My guts have always stood me well, and I got 18 months into my trip here, before a fateful hot dog from a street stall got me. Bactrin is the stuff to get shot of it, but be careful - it's potent stuff. Immodium is for traveling emergencies only in my opinion.

In Mex City I often drink tap water, although it's not a brilliant idea. I just get lazy when the bottle runs out. Brushing your teeth and washing your food in tap water is fine.

I can't help think that trying to permanently avoid any germs makes you soft!! Get a few bugs in you and let your body learn to deal with them!

PS....don't forget to take your worming tablets! Vermox do a one tablet solution.

[Phil_K]

[Piratetati]

I travel to Mexico regularly, my father is from Mexico City and my family is there and in Tijuana. We never have anything to do with the tap water except to shower. My Dad who has a steel stomache makes us do our dishes, brush our teeth, and cook with bottled water.
Other things he warns us against: fried chips because of the bad oil, ice cream because it will be defrosted and then refrozen, and popsicles made with bad water.
I might be a little overboard with all of my worries, probably a dad trying to take care of his kids, but if not one of my family members in Mexico is willing to drink the tap water I don't reccomend it. You can still get sick, hell I still eat fried chips from vendors and a lot of other things, I just understand the chances.

[El Gallo]

When I taught group classes, a bigger threat than water and street food was viruses. Since I have only been teaching private students the last couple of years I have had much fewer colds. Classrooms are incubators for cold viruses. Another challenge was keeping 17 to 25 students cool in the hot Chiapas weather because one student with a cold was deathly afraid of air conditioning.

I find Mexicans' aversion to air conditioning, drinking anything cold or eating ice cream when one has a cold an interesting cultural difference in beliefs and have had many arguments with my Mexcian family and my doctor students regarding this when I have a cold.

Again, hand washing is probably the best prevention.

[El Gallo]

many fewer?

[ls650]

[Gary Denness]

And talking of washing hands and general cleanliness....the Mexican use of bleach is incredible. My better half bleaches almost every visible surface, and most non visible ones, before any visitor is permitted entry. Whoever makes Clorox must be making a fortune. It can't be good for the environment though, I'm sure...