Things You Should Never Eat or Drink in Mexico, Ever (2024)

FAQs

Things You Should Never Eat or Drink in Mexico, Ever? ›

Never eat things washed with tap water (fruits, vegetables, ice made with tap water, etc.) Never eat food that has not been cooked thoroughly. Avoid raw seafood, undercooked eggs, and any meat that is not completely cooked.

“ Salsas – Salsas that sit out, un-refrigerated, are far and away the most common cause of food poisoning across all the people of Mexico City.

Eggs, which many Mexican dishes contain, may be a more likely source of diarrhea than previously realized when they are raw or insufficiently cooked. Well-done eggs and egg dishes are safe. Fruit juices sold on the street should be avoided even when they are advertised as fresh and pure.

Although there will be some bacteria in the water from the tap it is fine to brush your teeth with, even if you are at a place where you can't drink the tap water.

Capsaicin in spicy food irritates pain receptors in the digestive tract. To protect itself, the gut speeds up to get rid of the capsaicin quickly. This leads to diarrhea.

Traveler's diarrhea is the most common illness that affects international travelers. It's usually related to a bacterial infection from consuming contaminated food or water. Most cases are mild and last for a few days.

Traveler's diarrhea may begin abruptly during your trip or shortly after you return home. Most people improve within 1 to 2 days without treatment and recover completely within a week.

The water source matters

Water delivered to homes in Mexico is suitable for showering and washing-up the dishes, but most people don't use unfiltered tap water for personal consumption.

Temperature changes. Traveling between different climates can confuse our bodies and make us more susceptible to illnesses because our immune systems aren't sure how to react. Your body has to readjust to the new temperature before it can fight off any symptoms coming your way, allowing you to feel sick much faster.

Can I bring Tylenol to Mexico? ›

The amount of medication you carry during the trip should not exceed the amount needed for your stay in Mexico. The medical prescription must be translated into Spanish. Medications must be placed in hand luggage, with their respective boxes and in transparent bags.

Is coffee safe in Mexico? Yes generally coffee is safe to drink throughout Mexico with many excellent coffee shops.

In 2020, Mexico enacted a law requiring warning labels on the front of food packages that contain "excess" sugar, calories, sodium, or saturated fat by Official Mexican Standards.

An Important Part of Mexican Cuisine

Chicken is part of some of the most iconic Mexican dishes, from chicken tacos and chilaquiles with chicken to the complex mole poblano, whose recipe calls for at least 20 ingredients.

You can find many bottled-water brands easily available wherever you go in Mexico, but if you want to know the best ones, Epura and Bonafont are the best-selling purified water brands with the most reputation in the country and the cheapest.

What should I do if I accidentally drink water in Mexico? In most cases, you'll likely be just fine. If your stomach begins to feel a little upset, an over-the-counter medication like Pepto-Bismol or Immodium can help.

If you're making something like a delicious Mexican soup or pasta, you're completely fine to cook with Mexico tap water, since you will be killing the microorganisms off in the boiling process.

Mexicans often "hold" a gesture (a handshake, a squeeze of the arm, a hug) longer than Americans and Canadians do. Don't stand with your hands on your hips; this signifies anger. It is considered rude to stand around with your hands in your pockets.

NO, you cannot drink tap water in Mexico but you can drink iced beverages, coffee, or salad and fruits. Make sure you take a refillable water bottle with you and stay hydrated because drinking TAP water is not the only thing that can make you sick in Mexico. What is this?

Alcohol consumption laws

The legal drinking age is 18 in Mexico, and while passengers of the requisite age aren't prohibited from drinking inside a vehicle, it's illegal to drink in the street, and visitors can be fined or jailed for public inebriation. Driving while drunk in Mexico is, of course, a criminal offense.

Is it OK to drink coffee in Mexico? ›

Is coffee safe in Mexico? Yes generally coffee is safe to drink throughout Mexico with many excellent coffee shops.