US pork producers reassures meat is safe

US pork producers, responding to a swine flu outbreak that has escalated into a public health emergency, said Sunday (Apr 26) their product is safe and that consumers cannot catch the virus by eating properly cooked food.

 

The industry-funded National Pork Board (NPB) said it hopes to reassure the public that pork is safe and will continue to be safe to consume.

 

The statement comes as multiple nations increase their screening of pigs and pork imports from the Americas or are banning them outright as the virus is said to have killed up to 86 people and likely sickened up to 1,400 since April 13 in Mexico.

 

US officials said the virus has been found in New York, California, Texas, Kansas and Ohio, but so far no fatalities have been reported.

 

 

The organisation pointed to a statement by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention that swine flu viruses are not spread by food and that eating properly handled pork and cooked pork products is safe since the virus dies when cooked at temperatures of 160 degrees or higher.

 

Russia has banned the import of meat products from Mexico, California, Texas and Kansas.

 

South Korea has said it will increase the number of its flu virus checks on pork products from Mexico and the US.

 

Smithfield Foods Inc., the largest US pork producer, said it has found no signs or symptoms of swine flu in its herds or workers at the company's joint ventures in Mexico.

 

Smithfield, Virginia-based company said those operations will submit samples from swine herds to The University of Mexico for testing.

 

The company also noted that its joint ventures in Mexico routinely administer flu virus vaccinations to their herds and conduct monthly tests for the presence of swine flu.

 

NPB president Steve Weaver said the organisation is urging pork producers to take biosecurity precautions to ensure the good health of animals and for all those who provide care for the animals.