Contaminated drinks that left one dead and seven sick were brought to the Mexicali area which is located about 240 miles from Phoenix and 124 miles from San Diego. A statement released by a hospital network in Colorado and Arizona through the Health Banner, stated that some 7Up bottles in Mexicali contain methamphetamines.
The Health Banner warned that side effects after one has consumed the meth-laced drink can be sudden and may result in a life-threatening condition. Symptoms include irritation of, or an abnormal taste in the mouth or throat, burning in the esophagus or abdomen, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and fast or irregular heartbeat.
Health experts are also encouraging people to be vigilant when traveling to that area and have advised them to confirm that seals on food and drinks are intact. They also encourage people to immediately stop consuming the purchased products if they have a different color, smell, or taste
Meth-Laced 7Up Found in Mexico https://t.co/qq0zYY3u5Y pic.twitter.com/XOmHyt8KCE
— The Daily Meal (@thedailymeal) September 24, 2017
Information from Dr. Pepper Snapple Group U.S
The spokesman for Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Mr. Chris Barnes, told the media that "Products sold in the United States are not affected by the contamination in Mexico because Dr. Pepper Snapple Group only distributes 7Up sodas within the United States." The spokesman also added that "Dr.
Pepper Snapple owns and licenses the 7Up brand in the U.S. and its territories and does not advertise, sell or distribute the products internationally."
The Baja attorney general's office in California is currently investigating how the drug ended up in the sodas. This was mentioned in an announcement made on their Facebook page.
According to Snopes media, the health department of Baja California conducted an investigation and found meth in 2-liter 7Up bottles in stores within the Mexicali area. They also ordered the stores to remove the products from their shelves.
Illicit alcohol seized by Mexican authorities last month
Last month, Mexican authorities discovered unsafe alcohol being sold in resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs frequented by tourists in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
During the crackdown, authorities found 10,000 gallons of illicit alcohol from an unlicensed manufacturer with unsafe manufacturing practices. There were also media reports of people blacking out after consuming small amounts of low-quality alcohol in that area. These reports came after a 2017 report by Euromonitor International found out that 36 percent of alcohol consumed in Mexico is illegal.