This is my first post here, and if someone else has posted about this topic, please accept my apologies in advance.

Things came to a head Easter 2006 & Exploded for me this past week with the Discovery my CREST toothpaste was made in Mexico!:

In January 1994, Canada, the United States and Mexico launched the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and formed the world's largest free trade area. NAFTA created the great jelly bean offshoring to Mexico.

Fast forward to Easter 2006: Billions of dollars of jelly beans were consumed by Americans this past Easter, and guess where they were made? Mexico. Familiar brand names that Americans have known for generations - such as Brach’s, Brocks, Starburst, Jelly Belly and even some of the Great Value jelly beans at Wal-Mart – ALL are manufactured in Mexico – a third world country. Americans ate these and fed these to their children.

There is no US FDA in Mexico. Not as far as I can tell from researching all over the web. So, there is no oversight as to cleanliness, bacteria, vermin, (mice, rats, roaches, etc., or their waste products) pesticides, lead, or other undesirable substances in the billions of jelly beans Americans consumed.

Are candy makers in Mexico washing their hands? Wearing gloves? Wearing caps to keep hair out of the candy? Some Mexican candy was recalled by the FDA in recent years because it contained unsafe levels of lead.

I searched my local retailers and the story was the same – from Walgreens to Food Lion, to Krogers, to Wal-Mart - only very few jelly beans are still being manufactured in the USA.

When our Presidents (Clinton & GW Bush) and Congress (Republican & Democrat) agreed to and signed the NAFTA trade agreement and CAFTA trade agreement, American candy manufacturers (AND MANY, MANY OTHERS) started closing down American factories that had been in business for generations, and moved their facilities offshore to Mexico. The candy manufacturers claimed it was over the price of sugar, but the main issue was the cost of labor.

Third world countries don’t have the same standards of sanitation or level of quality in their daily lives as America and developed nations do.

Even if there is some branch similar to the FDA in Mexico, it is probably corrupt, because their government is corrupt.

Our politicians may have sold out American jobs and food production to Mexico and other third-world nations, but we don’t have to buy those products – and ultimately, we have the final say according to what we buy and what we will our allow our families to consume. I’ve made it a practice to read all food labels to find the country of origin.

Current FOOD and CONSUMABLE ITEMS IMPORTED FROM MEXICO:Easter 2006, Wal-Mart’s Great Value jelly beans (found in the regular candy aisle, not the Easter candy aisle) is made in Canada. And Gimbal’s Gourmet Jelly Beans (found in the regular candy aisle) are still made in the USA.

Some varieties of Crest Toothpaste. This past week, I discovered the tube of Crest toothpaste I had been using (had some GI problems latetly) was MADE IN MEXICO. This was the final straw! I called the 800# on my tube of CREST toothpaste - it is made by Proctor & Gamble and manufactured at the Naucalpan Plant in Mexico.

Great Value Fruit Slices and Orange Slices from Wal-Mart.
Starburst, Brachs, Brochs, Jelly Belly jelly beans.
Whopper Bird Eggs

Knorr chicken soup mix (dry packet) and I believe, it is Wylers (boullion cubes) are made in Mexico.

Some Bird's Eye frozen vegetables are Products of Mexico.

I also apologize for the length of this post, but there is more information to consider and pass along - I've been doing researching this week!


I have a problem with putting things in my mouth that have been made in third world countries.
  • Are food/ingestible items Made in Mexico under the US FDA scrutiny? (Probably not)[/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • What water is being used in these products? Probably not bottled water, because that would be an extra expense and the whole idea of NAFTA and CAFTA and FTAA is for these large US corporations is to cut expenses (including labor). Ever heard of Montezuma's revenge? Is there CLEAN, treated water being used in these products from third world countries?[/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • What checks are there on vermin (roaches, mice, rats, etc.), lead, bacteria, pesticides, chemicals, sanitation, etc., on food/ingestibles made in third world countries? Probably not many.[/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • Are there on-site US FDA inspectors in Mexico? [/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • Are these factories modern, state of the art, or are they old filthy delapitated buildings somewhere?[/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • How often if ever, is FDA testing done on food/ingestible items imported from Mexico?[/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • The BIG question I have about all of this - Is Public Health in the US at risk?
    [/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • What pathogens/poisons/or other undesirable items are in these products or could potentially be in these products?
    [/*:m:16tgmhgk]
  • Is this an open door to possible terror attacks through what we consume?
    [/*:m:16tgmhgk]


If anyone can guarantee me that all these products meet US FDA standards and regulations, then perhaps I'll change my mind. But I think this is a BIG SHAM that has been forced on the American people by their elected officials which they don't even know about - and ultimately is putting the American public at risk when it comes to food and other items we consume.

I am learning not to trust BRAND NAMES - because their bottom line in exporting jobs and shipping products back to us from Mexico is all the same - GREED - (at any cost?).

Settling a lawsuit by the city of Los Angeles and the state of California, PepsiCo., Inc. has agreed to eliminate lead-tainted labels on bottled soft drinks imported from Mexico and will pay a $1 million civil penalty, officials announced yesterday.
http://snipurl.com/posd


Salmonella outbreak from imported Mexican cantelopes:

http://www.about-salmonella.com/article ... hipley.htm


Hepatitis outbreak from imported Mexican green onions -


Preliminary traceback information indicates that green onions supplied to Restaurant A were grown in Mexico.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5247a5.htm

http://www.ocregister.com/investigation ... table.html

Salmonella outbreak from imported Mexican cantelopes:

http://www.about-salmonella.com/article ... hipley.htm


http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2 ... heese.html

Here's what the US State Department tells Americans who travel to Mexico:


Drink only bottled water or water that has been boiled for 20 minutes. Beware of ice cubes that may not have been made with purified water. Vegetables and fruits should be peeled or washed in a purifying solution. If you can't peel it or cook it, do NOT eat it. Don't eat food purchased from street vendors. Don't eat dairy products unless you know for a fact that they have been pasteurized. Diarrhea sufferers may benefit from anti-microbial treatment that may be prescribed or purchased over the counter. Travelers should consult a physician, rather than attempt self-medication, if the diarrhea is severe or persists several days.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/reg ... _1174.html

Here's what the CDC warns American travelers about Mexico:


Food and Waterborne Diseases

Avoid buying food or drink from street vendors, because it is relatively easy for such food to become contaminated.

Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout this region and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage ( hepatitis). Gnathostomiasis (roundworms) has increased in Mexico, with many cases being reported from the Acapulco area, infection has been reported in travelers. Humans become infected by eating undercooked fish or poultry, or reportedly by drinking contaminated water.
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm#diseases



That the State Dept. & CDC warn American travelers about Mexican drinking water and yet Congress and two administrations have decided that Free Trade merits Americans to consume products made in Mexico under little to no regulation, just shows how schizophrenic our government has become, and how how they are no longer looking out for the American people, the very people they are supposed to represent - Not the Mexican government, Not Corporations, Not Rich Lobbyists, but US - you & me!

This is an older figure from a few years back about Mexican drinking water - if anyone can find a newer study, please post it.

Less than 16% of sewage from Mexico's cities and towns receives any sort of treatment * the rest runs directly into waterways. Many towns have wastewater treatment plants which were constructed through development programs but have now fallen into disrepair. As a result, said Lichtinger, "we cannot reuse the water" * it is too contaminated to be used for domestic purposes by downstream communities. Instead, farmers often divert untreated wastewater flows to irrigate their fields, exposing both farmworkers and consumers to a host of health risks.
http://www.clas.berkeley.edu:7001/Event ... index.html

OH, NICE--NO EPA standards, either!!!

More...List of Waterborne diseases you can get from untreated water: BTW, candy & CREST both contain water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-borne_disease

(Outside source links may contain popups!)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01467.html
http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle ... cleID=1110

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0408/p01s02-usec.html

http://www.sugaralliance.org/desktopdef ... ews_id=268


Please help spread the world. I really wish the Media would pick up on this![/quote]