Meth-Laced 7Up in Mexico Kills One and Sickens 7

One person is dead and seven others were hospitalized after consuming what authorities believe was methamphetamine-contaminated 7Up in Mexico's Mexicali Valley, about 120 miles east of San Diego. Mexican authorities have removed the soda from stores while they investigate the source of the contamination; they've also secured more than 70,000 bottles of 7Up from a PepsiCo plant, according to a news release from the health department of Baja California, a Mexican state.

The source of the methamphetamine is currently unclear, and experts have cautioned travelers to be extra vigilant for signs of tampering. "It is important to check that the seal for any food and drink consumed is still intact and show no signs of tampering," Daniel Brooks, medical director for Banner Health's Poison and Drug Information Center, said in a statement. "If you notice any difference in color, taste, or smell, throw it out."

Anyone who consumes methamphetamine-contaminated 7Up—or any substance they suspect is contaminated—should contact the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 as you may need to seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of this soda contamination include irritation or an abnormal taste in the mouth or throat, burning in the esophagus or abdomen, nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, and a fast or irregular heartbeat, according to Banner Health, which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and operates hospitals in six states.

Five of the people hospitalized in Mexico had been released as of last week. While it's not clear if a soft drink manufacturer or a rogue actor added methamphetamine to the 7Up bottles, it's the second warning about beverages in Mexico in recent weeks. Last month, police raided dozens of resorts and nightclubs in the Mexican cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen after patrons there had reported feeling sick or blacking out from consuming what they believed was tainted or substandard alcohol.

A tourist from Wisconsin died in January, prompting authorities to investigate; more than three dozen other cases soon came to light. The US State Department issued a warning to travelers, telling them to beware of bad alcohol and to seek medical help for any suspected poisonings. The raids, coming less than a month later, seized more than 10,000 gallons of tainted alcohol.

People don't need to worry about contaminated 7Up products in the US, as the products sold in Mexico come from a different manufacturer, according to a spokesperson for the Dr Pepper Snapple Group. "None of the 7Up products sold in the US are affected by the issue being reported in Mexico," Chris Barnes told AZ Central. "Dr Pepper Snapple owns and licenses the 7Up brand only in the US and its territories. We do not market, sell or distribute the brand internationally."

Whatever the cause of this latest contamination, authorities have responded quickly. Sales of the suspected soda have been halted, and with luck, it will be safe to drink again.

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