Do You Eat The Salsa?

[ggunn]

Reason for this is so that you don't get the hot pepper on your hands. When you go to wipe the tears from your eyes when chopping the onions, you'll get a nasty pepper hit. Thus gloves are recommended.

And (guys) wash your hands before you go to the bathroom. Yes, this is the voice of (painful) experience talking...

Don't Drink the water.
Don't order a drink with ice in it.

Do drink bottled water.
Do drink things in either cans, bottles or plastic bottles.

The ice on Cozumel is fine. It all comes from the same ice plant, and they use purified water to make it.

 

[Christi]

The salsa is made of tomatoes and chilies in vinegar. All are very acetic and would be most unlikely to harbor bacteria. On the other hand, guacomole is made with mayonnaise. An excelent culture medium. Like Uncle Ricky says. "Eat the local stuff early in the trip and acclimatize yourself to the indigenous bacteria." I've always heard and found that Pepto Bismol is an excellent preventative. One to two tablets a day works wonders.

Some folks go as far as taking Cipro for prophylaxis. Don't know about you but high power antibiotics give me green apple trots worse than the revenge of Montezuma.

A trip to Mexico without Salsa would be as heretic as a trip to Thailand without Kow Phat - just unheard of.

The locals do not put mayonaise in the guacamole here. Guacamole, Mexican style is avocados, lime juice, onion and tomato, salt and pepper, that's it.

There is no vinegar in the salsa either. The salsa whether pureed or chopped "pico de gallo" style, is tomatos, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, onions, FRESH chiles (jalapeno/habanero) I have learned how to make salsa verde and red salsa from several local women, and it's a cardinal sin to use anything but fresh ingredients when making salsa or guacamole...never have I ever heard of or tasted vinegar in the salsa.

ANy Dr. will tell you NOT to take pepto or Cipro as a preventative. All Pepto does is coat your stomach and help in the evnt you DO get a tummy ache.

Antibiotics are not to be used as preventive...this is how drugs become resistant to bacteria and such.

 

[Christi]

Don't Drink the water.
Don't order a drink with ice in it.

Do drink bottled water.
Do drink things in either cans, bottles or plastic bottles.

This is SOOO ancient and this topic always strikes a nerve with me, because it's so far from the truth.

No matter what restaurant you go to touristy or local dive, you will NOT get served TAP water. The locals don't even drink the tap water. ALL ice on the island is made from purified water. The water trucks (5 or 6 companies) drive arouns all day every day delivering 5 gallon jugs of purified water to homes, restaurants, hotels, and businesses. THAT is the water that is served to everyone.

Furthermore, many restaurants and hotels now have water purification systems, AND I hear that our water is now being treated, but still not 100% potable, and still not served in restaurants. Restaurants also use an anti-bacterial solution in the water to soak and clean veggies if not being cooked.

You are just as likely to get food poisoning in the US as you are here, and that is the truth.

In fact, I got a SERIOUS case of sominella in the states several years ago, from a very well known and respected restaurant, to the point I was hospitalizedfor 2 days.

I have been here 4 years now. I brush my teeth with the water everyday, I wash my veggies in the tap water with the drops, I drink water in the restaurants, and those who know me, know what a fanatic I am about having a cup/glass of ice with my diet coke, gatorade or whatever I am drinking, I eat at nice restaurants, dives, and street vendors, etc. and I have never had food poisoning here.

Tourism is the economic base here...hotels and restaurants take all necessary precautions to make sure they don't "kill" the tourists. I'm not saying it can't happen here, of course it can...but it's just as likely to hit you in the US or any other country for that matter than here. Give the island and it's people a little more credit, please.

 

[Corigan]

Nice Post Christi, that pretty much sums it up in a nutshell.

Matt

 

[Christi]

Well, now, I reckon we have a recipe question here... Personally, when I make fresh salsa I don't use vinegar, but in checking the ingredients in the three different commercial offerings in my 'fridge, all have vinegar listed right after the usual top three (tomatoes, onions & peppers).
Rick

Those aren't fresh salsa's as you say. Vinegar neutralizes flavors as well. Things like salsa get spicier as the spices/flavors sit longer...I THINK that's why the commercial salsa's have vinegar in them...but I of course could be wrong.

 

[Cozoholic]

Furthermore, many restaurants and hotels now have water purification systems, AND I hear that our water is now being treated, but still not 100% potable, and still not served in restaurants. Restaurants also use an anti-bacterial solution in the water to soak and clean veggies if not being cooked.



So does that mean you can brush your teeth w/ tap water?

 

[HammerNoMore]

So does that mean you can brush your teeth w/ tap water?

I've never had a problem with it, but as always YMMV...

 

[ggunn]

Furthermore, many restaurants and hotels now have water purification systems, AND I hear that our water is now being treated, but still not 100% potable, and still not served in restaurants. Restaurants also use an anti-bacterial solution in the water to soak and clean veggies if not being cooked.



So does that mean you can brush your teeth w/ tap water?

Perhaps you can, but I don't. It's an easy precaution, at least where I stay, since there is always a jug of purified water in the bathroom.

 

[OE2X]

This is SOOO ancient and this topic always strikes a nerve with me, because it's so far from the truth.

No matter what restaurant you go to touristy or local dive, you will NOT get served TAP water. The locals don't even drink the tap water. ALL ice on the island is made from purified water. The water trucks (5 or 6 companies) drive arouns all day every day delivering 5 gallon jugs of purified water to homes, restaurants, hotels, and businesses. THAT is the water that is served to everyone.

Furthermore, many restaurants and hotels now have water purification systems, AND I hear that our water is now being treated, but still not 100% potable, and still not served in restaurants. Restaurants also use an anti-bacterial solution in the water to soak and clean veggies if not being cooked.

You are just as likely to get food poisoning in the US as you are here, and that is the truth.

In fact, I got a SERIOUS case of sominella in the states several years ago, from a very well known and respected restaurant, to the point I was hospitalizedfor 2 days.

I have been here 4 years now. I brush my teeth with the water everyday, I wash my veggies in the tap water with the drops, I drink water in the restaurants, and those who know me, know what a fanatic I am about having a cup/glass of ice with my diet coke, gatorade or whatever I am drinking, I eat at nice restaurants, dives, and street vendors, etc. and I have never had food poisoning here.

Tourism is the economic base here...hotels and restaurants take all necessary precautions to make sure they don't "kill" the tourists. I'm not saying it can't happen here, of course it can...but it's just as likely to hit you in the US or any other country for that matter than here. Give the island and it's people a little more credit, please.

Trust me this guy has a gringo stomach.

 

[Cozoholic]

my question exactly, if you CAN brush your teeth, then why's the water there?

Believe me, I'd love the convienence of knowing its safe, but im not risking my vacation...