Mexican beef industry is loaded with cheating beef growers. They pump their cattle full of steroids for muscle growth. The steroid clenbuterol or “miracle salts” or “cattle cocaine” enhances muscle growth in beef from 55 percent meat to 65 percent meat. The beef is so tainted it sickens hundreds of people a year. Last week the Mexican football announced positive drug abuse tests on 5 football players. Team leaders said the result was due to eating steroid tainted beef, and many agreed, including the Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

Biggest and most immediate risk is liver. The liver is a filter of toxins. So the drug / steroid clenbuterol collects in the liver of the animal. People buy livers, sear them, an hour later, they have the symptoms which can include headache, palpitations, nervousness and fluctuating blood pressure.

Mexico needs to make a crack down with meat inspections. All they need to do is sample livers of each animal at the slaughter house. If the liver fails, the entire animal is discarded. Slaughter house loses money. Slaughter house will not pay the trader. Trader will not pay the beef grower. End of epidemic.

http://www.myhealthblog.org/2011/06/16/mexican-beef-full-of-steroids-footballers-fail-drug-test-public-gets-sick/

urgh

this is why I never eat south american corned beef!

One should always try and buy local meat

yes that had me worried. I like corned beef occasionally and it all comes from South America here. Mostly Argentina

(despite the fact that yes, Mexico is Central rather than South America).  Some of it might be OK, but some won't be, and I like to be sure!

Weird.  Mexico is North America, not even Central.  I agree that I would feel iffy eating something that just lists a continent as the place of origin.

Buying local is definitely the way to go, when possible.