¡Hola amigos! This week, financial fraud and travel scams are on the rise, white potatoes are now 100% more expensive than a year ago, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed its warning after a contamination test on lettuce from central Mexico turned out to be a false positive.

Plus, how to resolve a consumer dispute in Mexico, five traditional remedies every medicine cabinet should have, and the overnight tradition that transforms an entire town into a breathtaking work of art.

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❓México Trivia

Which holiday did the Mexican government just officially move from March to July 24?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

⚠️ Travel scams in Mexico rose 3% from last summer. Nearly three-quarters of reported cases involved fake websites and social media profiles posing as Booking, Expedia, Volaris, Aeroméxico, and other major travel brands.

💳 Financial fraud claims in Mexico rose 16.7% in the first half of 2026, with credit and debit cards accounting for more than 36% of complaints. 

🥬 The FDA backtracked after linking Taylor Farms lettuce from Guanajuato to the U.S. Cyclospora outbreak, then admitted the positive test that sparked the warning was a false positive.

🏆 President Sheinbaum presented Spain's Rodri with the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament's best player after the 2026 final.

⚽ President Sheinbaum used the World Cup final to briefly discuss trade with President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the next USMCA negotiations. 

🤝 Mexican and U.S. negotiators will meet July 21–23 in Mexico City for a third round of USMCA negotiations on steel, aluminum, autos, agriculture, labor, and economic security.

🥔 Consumer price of white potatoes rose 101.5% year over year in July, according to Profeco data.

🤖 Mexico launched a national initiative to develop guidelines for AI, social media, and smartphone use in schools with support from UNESCO and education experts.

✈️ The U.S. and Mexico end a years-long cargo aviation dispute over Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

🚗 Chinese car brands accounted for 17% of all new vehicle sales in Mexico in the first half of 2026 despite the country’s 50% import tariffs.

The Average Scam Costs $5,578

Most people never expect to lose thousands to a scam. But when they do, the average loss is $5,578.

The good news? Most scams leave warning signs – if you know what to look for.

ScamBrief is a free weekly newsletter that shows you the latest scams happening right now, and how to spot them before they cost you money.

Subscribe to ScamBrief for free

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Health Insurance in Mexico

Choosing health insurance sounds simple – until you realize the wrong choice can leave you paying for coverage you don't need...or without coverage when you do.

The difference isn't just how long the policy lasts. It affects who each plan is designed for, what it covers, and whether it fits the way you live in Mexico. Before you make a decision, here's what you need to know.

Read more

🧩 Life in México

Don't Let a Bad Business Experience Cost You Twice

A business refuses to deliver your furniture. A hotel adds charges that were never disclosed. A contractor disappears after taking your deposit. When something goes wrong, many people assume their only options are to accept the loss or hire an attorney.

The first loss is your money. The second is giving up because you think there's nothing you can do about it.

PROFECO, Mexico's consumer protection agency, can help resolve many consumer disputes – but not every complaint qualifies. Knowing the difference can save you time, frustration, and unnecessary headaches.

Before you decide there's nothing you can do, here's what you should know.

Read more

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🇲🇽 Viva México

Huamantla's Sawdust Carpets: A Tradition Created to Disappear

Every August 14th, the entire town of Huamantla stays awake throughout the night to  create one of Mexico’s most breathtaking works of art. 

Dyed sawdust, sifted and arranged by hand, turns the streets into a giant canvas. This centuries-old tradition is known as La Noche que Nadie Duerme, “The Night When No One Sleeps.” It's the signature event of the month-long Huamantla Fair and honors the Virgen de la Caridad, the Huamantla's patron saint.

By midnight, more than seven kilometers of vibrant, intricate carpets transform this Pueblo Mágico in Tlaxcala. Beginning in the afternoon, master artisans work alongside the community, creating the tapetes.

Each neighborhood and family contributes its own design. Geometric patterns, religious images, and local symbols appear in meticulously created images made of sawdust, as well as seeds, sand, and flowers.

The alfombras or tapetes take six to eight hours to complete. Nearly 900 families help create them each year. 

The work begins months earlier, with planning designs and selecting materials. Created as an offering to the Virgin, the intricate works of art exist for just one night before disappearing forever.

After a mass at midnight, the Virgin's image leaves the basilica and begins a six-to-nine-hour procession winding through the streets. The carpets create a path to honor and guide the saint back to her sanctuary. Music, prayers, and songs follow her through the night. 

As her carriage passes, thousands of devotees follow, their footsteps slowly brushing away every carefully crafted design. By dawn, the tapetes have disappeared. Until next year.

Watch this video to see the artistry behind the tapetes and the procession that follows.

🪷 Viva Wellness

Build Your Mexican Herbal First Aid Kit

For generations, Mexican families have relied on a handful of plants for everything from minor burns and bruises to stomachaches and sleepless nights.

Here are five time-tested botanical remedies worth keeping in your medicine cabinet.

Tepezcohuite (pronounced: teh-pez-co-WEE-teh)
This bark gained national attention after helping treat burn victims after a major industrial accident. Nicknamed Nature’s Neosporin, it boosts collagen, speeds skin repair, and prevents infection. It’s a go-to for acne, rashes, sunburns, and minor wounds.

Chilcuague (pronounced cheel-KWAH-geh)
This potent root has antibacterial, antifungal, and numbing properties. It’s great for everything from sore throats, toothaches, and even digestive discomfort. Start small…this root is powerful. Topically, it helps with cuts and insect bites. Read more about it here. 

Mexican Árnica
A trusted remedy for sprains, sore muscles, and bruises, Arnica is typically used as a salve, it reduces inflammation and speeds recovery. It’s also commonly used as a post sobada (a traditional healing massage) treatment. 

Manzanilla
In Mexican homes, Manzanilla is used for stomachaches, nervous tension, menstrual cramps. It’s also used in warm compresses for red itchy eyes and skin rashes.

Mexican Tarragon
Traditional healers have treasured this herb, known as yauhtli in Nahuatl, for centuries. It has calming and antispasmodic properties and is commonly steeped as a tea to ease digestion, diarrhea, flu symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

Mitos en el Ring – July 23 and 30, Arena México, Mexico City 
Think you've seen lucha libre? Think again. Mexico's masked wrestlers take on the roles of gods and mythical figures in this spectacular production inspired by pre-Hispanic mythology. Wrestling, ritual dance, elaborate costumes, and visual effects bring stories of the sun, corn, and pulque to life. Tickets start at MX$250. More info here.

Expo Feria Comitán: Feria de la Marimba y de las Flores – July 31–August 9, Comitán, Chiapas
Chiapas celebrates with ten days of music, colourful parades, regional food, and open-air concerts. A highlight is the Encuentro de Marimbas, when the flower-decorated Parque Central fills with the sound of live marimba performances. More info here.

Pabellón Retro de León – July 31–August 2, Poliforum León, Guanajuato
One of Mexico's largest retro collectibles fairs returns to Poliforum León. Nearly 200 exhibitors gather for a weekend dedicated to pop culture nostalgia. Browse vintage toys, vinyl, and memorabilia spanning the 1960s to the early 2000s. More info here.

Cantoya Fest 2026 – July 31–August 2, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán
Hundreds of handcrafted Cantoya balloons fill the skies above Pátzcuaro as this colourful festival marks its 10th anniversary. More than 100 teams from Mexico and abroad compete in mass launches, while workshops, live music, and a free closing concert by Moenia. More info here.

Festival del Hongo 2026 – July 31–August 2, San Mateo Río Hondo, Oaxaca
This annual mushroom festival celebrates the fungi, food traditions, and biodiversity of Oaxaca’s Sierra Sur through mushroom-gathering walks, workshops, ancestral knowledge, regional cooking, and music in the mountains. More info here.

Feria de Huamantla 2026 – July 31–August 31, Huamantla
For a month, Huamantla fills with concerts, parades, religious traditions, and community celebrations. Alongside the famous La Noche Que Nadie Duerme, visitors can experience the flower-filled Dahlia Parade, Cantoya lantern launches, classic car races, donkey races, artisan displays, and one of Mexico's liveliest Pueblo Mágico festivals. More info here.

Cartoon Madness – August 1–2, The Hub Querétaro, Querétaro
One of Querétaro’s biggest celebrations of independent illustration and graphic art returns for a colourful weekend. More than 60 artists from across Mexico will showcase comics, prints, zines, and original artwork. Meet the creators, browse unique pieces, and discover Mexico’s thriving contemporary illustration scene. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Pendiente

Pendiente is a versatile word in Mexican Spanish. Depending on how it’s used, it can be an adjective, a noun, or part of a common expression.

As an adjective: Pending or unresolved

El pago está pendiente.
The payment is still pending.

In the expression “al pendiente”: Keeping an eye on something
 
Quedo al pendiente.
I’ll keep an eye on it. / I’ll wait to hear from you.

As a noun: A task or something left to do

Tengo muchos pendientes.
I’ve got a lot on my to-do list.

As a noun: A worry or concern

Me da pendiente dejar la casa sola.
I’m worried about leaving the house empty.

As a noun: An earring

¿Dónde compraste los pendientes?
Where did you buy the earrings?

🎯 Trivia Answer

A: National Tequila Day (Día Nacional del Tequila).

Until this year, Mexico celebrated Día Nacional del Tequila on the third Saturday of March. But on May 28, 2026, the Mexican government published a presidential decree in the country's Official Gazette making July 24 the new permanent date. 

The measure had already been approved by Congress on April 22 and signed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, aligning it with International Tequila Day. It officially took effect the following day.

Before you buy your next bottle, check out The Tequila Report's expert reviews and Top 150 Tequila Brands list. Check it out here.

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