Swine Flu Gives Pork a Bad Name
| Tue Apr. 28, 2009 8:45 PM PDT
Fewer little piggies are going to market, and farmers are scrambling. News of the now-ubiquitous swine flu fills the headlines (what recession?), everyone's either got it, has symptoms, or can't get the virus off their RSS feeds (sorry). Even the "swine" in swine flu is presenting some with opportunities. The advocacy group Farm Sanctuary has taken the swine flu's 15 minutes and released an advisory on the ills of factory farmed pork. True, the pandemic may represent a policy window for proposed legislation to better regulate mass production of pork, but officials are now saying that the flu's name is misleading.
Also called the North American flu or the catchy "H1N1" virus, swine flu is the name that's stuck (except in Israel where they've pulled the swine reference since no one eats pork in that Jewish/Muslim mess-of-a-state and apparently therefore no one would care?). Earlier today Ag secretary Tom Vilsack practically begged people to stop using "swine flu" and to start referring to the illness by its scientific name HIN1. Too bad the science didn't work out to C3PO.
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The pig part of this is confusing. The Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health points out that the virus contains avian and human components and that not a single pig so far has been found ill with the disease. The connection comes from the fact that "the virus that is circulating includes genetic components of human, avian, and swine origin" (and "avian flu" was already taken). Indeed, US Trade rep Ron Kirk confirmed: "We want to say to consumers here and abroad that there is no risk to you, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that there is any link between consuming pork, prepared pork products, and the H1N1 virus."
Still, despite the fact that no pigs have the virus, and that the virus isn't spread via animals several countries have moved to ban US pork imports, including Russia and China. So I guess next time you pig out (especially if it's on local and small ag other white meat) you can feel good about supporting a troubled market.
Meanwhile, does this let spinach off the hook for a little while?
Comments
Good for me in Indonesia. I
Submitted by wahya (not verified) on Tue Apr. 28, 2009 11:55 PM PDT.
Good for me in Indonesia. I heard that this virus only affecting regions that has four season. But anyway hope this problems solve soon.
The reason:
Submitted by online accreditation (not verified) on Wed May. 27, 2009 11:57 PM PDT.
The reason: overcrowded pig factory farms create the perfect reservoir for this virus to replicate, creating new and more deadly strains. Once a pathogen emerges, it is spread by farm workers and then via the transport of animals. 90% of animals raised for "food" are factory farmed. 65 billion animals suffer and are killed each year all for our taste buds. We do not need meat, dairy, fish etc to be healthy as many healthy vegans can attest.
Swine Flu Gives Pork a Bad Name
Submitted by Dredd (not verified) on Wed Apr. 29, 2009 3:54 AM PDT.
And it isn't the first time. Remember in 1976 when Ford ordered vaccination for swine flu and the vaccine killed lots of people?
The current crop of nattering nabobs of breaking news are missing more than one big picture again:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/04/swine-floosy.html
I wouldn't bank on it requiring a 4 season climate. I'd still take whatever measures you can to minimize your exposure to it like avoiding crowded places and washing your hands a lot so as not to transfer any germs to your mouth. source: Swine Flu Protection Site
Four Seasons
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr. 29, 2009 1:41 PM PDT.
Mexico does not have four seasons.
You might find it amusing
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Apr. 29, 2009 4:15 PM PDT.
You might find it amusing that there is a Swine Flu Cake Naming Contest somewhere out there. The winner gets an exotic chocolate, bacon-accented pig: http://apocalypsecakes.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/name-the-swine-flu-cake-...
Maybe steer clear bacon after all
Submitted by Elizabeth Gettelman on Wed Apr. 29, 2009 4:29 PM PDT.
Ann Friedman over at TAPPED makes the argument that factory farms are indeed to blame for patient zero ff:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=04&year=2009&bas...
Flu Masks
Submitted by bobbbyjoek (not verified) on Wed Apr. 29, 2009 8:10 PM PDT.
Here is a good article about Flu Masks.
http://flu-mask.blogspot.com/
Swine Flu Recommendations
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Apr. 30, 2009 5:59 AM PDT.
You can see more swine flu recommendations at: http://www.swineflurecommendations.com/
I have been checking on this
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri May. 1, 2009 8:18 PM PDT.
I have been checking on this swine flu tracking website http://www.swine-flu-tracker.com/ on and off for the last couple of days now and its kinda scary seeing how it this strain of flu is spreading.
NAFTA Flu- reported in
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat May. 2, 2009 10:27 AM PDT.
NAFTA Flu- reported in Veracruz Mexico, Carroll Ranches pig farm sewage holding pond to creating agigantic Petri dish to gestate the FLU. With Clouds of FLIES FROM RUSTY LAGOONS.
It would be really
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat May. 2, 2009 11:45 AM PDT.
It would be really interesting to know WHY people even eat factory farm pork. Check out the internet for SMITHFIELD factory farm in Mexico. I believe SMITHFIELD is the largest US producer of factory farm pork in the world. Having reviewed the stories and photos, I will boycott all factory farm meat products which consist of the dead corpses of terrified animals pumped full of hormones and anti-biotics all their lives. It is absolutely disgusting that factory farming is permitted. Cruel, filthy, unhealthy,
dangerous and totally irresponsible corporate bottom-line activities as usual.
Unsustainable, save the planet - adopt a plant based diet
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat May. 2, 2009 7:39 PM PDT.
One-third to one-half of pigs on modern factory farms have antibody evidence of the H1N1 virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The reason: overcrowded pig factory farms create the perfect reservoir for this virus to replicate, creating new and more deadly strains. Once a pathogen emerges, it is spread by farm workers and then via the transport of animals. 90% of animals raised for "food" are factory farmed. 65 billion animals suffer and are killed each year all for our taste buds. We do not need meat, dairy, fish etc to be healthy as many healthy vegans can attest.
Meat and dairy consumption according to a UN FAO report are one of the top 2 contributors to global warming, more than all automotive industries combined. Cattle rearing is the no 1 destroyer of the Amazon Rainforest.
UK DEFRA has been suggesting to the public to adopt a plant based diet. Dr Pachauri from IPCC has been suggesting this to the public for climate change.
Check out this vid http://www.veganvideo.org and this http://www.earthlings.com
The solution - don't eat flesh, stop the pandemic and all other disasters which arise from flesh and animal product consumption.
Adopt a plant based diet for peace, for all sentient beings and for climate change
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and
Submitted by Ivy (not verified) on Fri May. 15, 2009 7:52 PM PDT.
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/20061101/swine-flu-faq
here is the website where people can get a rich knowledge about the swine flu.
and hope it become the history soon.
The solution - don't eat
Submitted by lara (not verified) on Mon May. 18, 2009 1:42 PM PDT.
The solution - don't eat flesh, stop the pandemic and all other disasters which arise from flesh and animal product consumption.
totaly agree
I agree, but stick to the facts
Submitted by Mark1221 (not verified) on Tue Jun. 30, 2009 2:53 AM PDT.
Nice post Elizabeth. I agree with the comments that state that intensively farmed pork is something that should be avoided as it is not really necessary and is probably unhealthy. However, I think that we can promote such an idea better by sticking to the facts (and not just the facts as we see them).
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