Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Consumer agency finds fault with several brands of mezcal

A recently completed study from the federal consumer protection agency (Profeco) has bad news for some common mezcal brands, one of which could be pulled from the market.

The study is scheduled to be published in March, but Profeco has already started proceedings against some companies, according to Ricardo Sheffield, the agency’s chief.

The worst offender is the popular brand Gusano Rojo, which Sheffield described as “almost” mezcal.

“It doesn’t comply with the regulation … we started proceedings against [the company] and it will end up in proceedings against the Mezcal Regulation Council for having authorized a product that doesn’t comply,” Sheffield said.

Other lesser offenders will get away with fines or a slap on the wrist.

The fines will go to four products that contain less product than they advertise. Mezcal Amarás, Mezcales de Leyenda, Mezcal 1903 and Mezcal Alacrán will all have to pay.  In some cases, the bottles contained as much as 5% less than the label stated, violating consumer protection regulations, Sheffield said.

Mezcal 1903 also fell short in terms of alcohol content with 37.2% alcohol instead of 38%, as advertised. So did the brands Apaluz, with 38.6% alcohol instead of the advertised 40%, and Kilómetro 70, with 39% instead of 40%. The watery brews were reprimanded by Profeco and told to correct the issue.

Sheffield acknowledged that the violations were small in some cases, but emphasized that slight anomolies “reflect a lack of control in the production,” a worrisome problem for alcoholic beverages.

Mezcal is liquor distilled from mashed, fermented agave hearts. The agave species used can take from 6 up to 20 years to grow to maturity.

With reports from Milenio

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Los Alegres de Barranco band poses with instruments and cowboy hats

US revokes visas of Mexican band who paid homage to cartel boss ‘El Mencho’

5
The band Los Alegres del Barranco is at the center of a heated controversy after paying tribute to notorious drug lord Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes during a recent concert.
Kristi Noem and President Trump

Homeland Security Secretary outlines Trump’s ‘wishlist’ for Mexico to sidestep tariffs

14
The list of requests was presented to President Sheinbaum by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who suggested Mexico may still be able to avoid tariffs before Wednesday.
A stack of tortillas with a hand at the top, pulling a couple of tortillas off the stack.

UNAM designs a ‘supertortilla’ to fight malnutrition in Mexico

7
According to federal data, over 18% of Mexicans lack access to quality nutritional food, while obesity and diabetes are prevalent in Mexico.