A Conversation for Mexico's Drinking Water
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Started conversation Nov 4, 2003
According to an article in New Scientist, levels of contamination in restaurants in Mexico were 1000 times more than in restaurants in Houston. There were repeated cases of nasty virulent strains of E.coli that account for half of all cases of travellers diarrhoea. The bugs come from numan faeces and contaimate spicy condiments and sauces via human unwashed hands. 
'Most people think it's the water, but it's not', said the bloke whose been testing food in Mexico and elsewhere for nearly 30 years. He found that bad foor accounted for about 90% of travellers' diarrhoea.
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!" Posted Nov 5, 2003
Interesting.
There was a story some time ago about a poor woman who had to undergo brain surgery to alleviate the seizures which had fairly suddenly afflicted her. According to the report, the surgeons expected to find a tumour in her brain. Instead they found the decaying remains of a parasite of some sort, which they supposed she had acquired in some of that bad food. 
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Nov 6, 2003
How horrid. Apparently, researchers looked at 71 sauces in 36 restaurants in Guadalajara and compared them with 25 sauces served in Mexican-styled restaurants in Houston. The only found E.coli, but it was present in 66% of the sauces in Guadalajara and 40% of those in Houston. None of the Houston ones had any of the really dangerous E.coli strains, but 9% of the Mexiccan ones did.
The difference was that the Houston ones were safer because they were either freshly made or from the fridge. In Mexico, consecutive customers stick their fingers in the sauces, too!
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!" Posted Nov 6, 2003
Are health problems associated with the food common among the locals or is it possible to become immune/resistant to E. coli and such?
I used to se this young fellow touring the public parks, eating out of garbage cans. Naturally, it turned my stomach to imagine the stuff he must have been finding. But I always imagined him having an amazingly robust immune system. I've not seen him for some time, so perhaps not.
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Nov 6, 2003
I've no idea, but I imagine it could be the case. I wonder if anyone else knows?
Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!" Posted Nov 8, 2003
I'm sure someone must. 
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Not necessarily the water - more the poor hygiene
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