H1 N1 Swine Flu-Should You Eat Pork?

The powers that be changed the new flu virus' name from Swine to H1 N1 because it was affecting the Pork Industry, as people were avoiding pork products from fear of contagion. Strangely enough, there is a documented case of a human giving some pigs the Swine Flu in Canada. This man had been in Mexico became infected with the virus and past it on to the little porkies.

There is such widespread hysteria about the virus that some countries have taken to slaughtering pigs on the assumption that it would slow the spread of the disease. But we may ask is it reasonable to be wary about eating pork? Are we in danger of contracting the virus by eating a Pork Chop or a couple of slices of Bacon?

Thusfar the United States Department Of Agriculture has affirmed that eating properly cooked pork does not put you at risk of contracting H1 N1. The bottom line is that you must cook all your meats thoroughly, especially Pork and follow the Meat Handling Instructions on every meat package in the United States. These instructions on the raw meat packages. about safe handling is to prevent any contamination from uncooked meat.

Any uncooked meat might pose the risk of Salmonella, E.Coli and maybe even Flu for anybody who ingests or mishandles it. If you follow the guidelines about handling meat and poultry to a tee you shouldn't run into any problems.

The guidelines on the meat packages instructs you to wash everything which touched the raw meat including hard surfaces, utensils and things like your hands so that you don't inadvertently have a germ passed to you. Also be wary when you go to the supermarket and there is drippings on the check out counter from raw meat, this is a hotbed of infection. Don't contaminate raw meat products with fruit and vegetables via storing them in the same container or letting the former's raw juices drip onto the latter.

When I handle raw meat I rarely touch it and when I do I wash my hands like it's no tomorrow and anthing for that matter that the meat touches like a dish cloth. Something benign like a contaminated tine can start an infection of anything. Thus proper safety when handling any food is appropriate.

Personally I have two relatives who lived during the Swine Flu Pandemic of 1918, my maternal grandmother who was 18 and my paternal grandfather who was 38 and in the Army in France which was heavily infected with Swine Flu; in fact the toll on the military was astronomical; I never heard mention of avoiding pork from any of them.

I agree with the USDA that eating pork poses no threat, in fact I'm going to a Chitin Strut* soon as I complete this writing. However we should be vigilant about protecting our food supply because it has gone global and there are a lot of imports of food into every country; one country's ideal of hygiene may not be the same as another

In my home there have been recalls of contaminated tomatoes, Dog Food, Jalapenos and Toys. One cannot be too safe when it comes to a product. A local radio host whose name is on the tip of my tongue but escapes me,  has defied these alerts about the condemned products by going on food binges with the recalled tomatoes, peanut butter and has survived. In response to this hysteria about pork he claims he going to buy some Chitins-I say Bravo.

There is no need to throw out the bacon or retire the Pork Chops, it has nothing to do with swine flu just be mindful of how you handle meats, poultry and fish. In these times of trouble we should do our utmost to stick to the facts not the hysteria

*CHITLIN' STRUCT-SOUTHERN TRADITION OF CENTERING A PICNIC, CARNIVAL AND PARADE AROUND THE INTESTINES OF A PIG.