You cannot get the H1N1 flu from eating pork. Pork and pork products remain safe to eat and handle.
Scientific studies conducted by the USDA have proven that the H1N1 flu is a respiratory virus, not a food-borne illness, and it is not found in the blood or meat of pigs exposed to the virus.
The two most important steps you can take to protect you and your family from the H1N1 flu are to wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
H1N1 Media Kit for Producers- An H1N1 Producer Media Kit has been developed to provide materials and instruction to U.S. pork producers to enable them to interact proactively and positively with local, state and national media on the science of the H1N1 virus and its impact on their pork production operations. These materials are available at http://www.factsaboutpork.com/ProducerInfo.
Oct. 19, 2009 -The announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday that tests are being conducted to determine if three pigs from the Minnesota State Fair in August are the first confirmed cases of the Novel H1N1 virus in the U.S. swine herd provides an opportunity to stress three important messages:
Regardless of the outcome of the tests, you cannot get the H1N1 flu from eating pork. Pork and pork products remain safe to eat and handle.
Scientific studies conducted by the USDA have proven that the H1N1 flu is a respiratory virus, not a food-borne illness, and it is not found in the blood or meat of pigs exposed to the virus.
The two most important steps you can take to protect you and your family from the H1N1 flu are to wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
“I would like to echo the comments of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack,” said Chris Novak, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. “People cannot get this flu from eating or handling pork.”
Statement from the National Pork Producers Council
Oct. 19, 2009 - With today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that pigs in Minnesota tested positive for the 2009 novel H1N1 virus, the National Pork Producers Council reiterates that pork is safe to eat and handle and that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu viruses cannot be transmitted through food, including pork.
Pigs, like people, sometimes get sick or contract influenza viruses and recover. Indeed, pigs in several other countries previously have contracted the novel H1N1 flu.
As it did in late April after initial reports on the H1N1 flu, NPPC is urging pork producers to tighten their existing biosecurity protocols to protect their pigs from the virus, including restricting public access to barns.
Questions Regarding Legal Action on H1N1 - The National Pork Board has received a few questions from producers concerned about some media outlets continued use of "swine flu" when reporting on H1N1, and whether taking legal action is an option that should be pursued.
The National Pork Board's legal counsel believes it is unlikely a producer or processor could sustain a defamation case against a news organization for its use of the term "swine flu" in connection with H1N1 news reports.
The free-speech protections in the First Amendment to the Constitution make it difficult to sue unless the speech is libelous or slanderous. About 10 years ago, a number of lawsuits were brought against media organizations under various agricultural disparagement statutes adopted by some states or under a theory of injurious falsehood.
Those cases met with limited success and substantial public criticism. Moreover, they would be difficult to sustain under the facts in the current situation. First, truth would be an absolute defense for any media person or outlet. Showing falsity would be difficult given that Novel H1N1 clearly has genetic components that are consistent with viruses found in swine in North America and Asia. Further, a statement about swine flu is not necessarily "of and concerning" pork products or their fitness for consumption.
We also need to mindful of negative public relations ramifications that could result from a lawsuit of this type.
Perhaps a better idea is to try some positive reinforcement of media doing it right. Recently some producers trained by the National Pork Board and some farmers from the American Farm Bureau began using Twitter and other social media to encourage all U.S. farmers, ranchers and consumers to watch only those television outlets that refer properly to the current influenza. CBS News, for example, is using the H1N1 terminology almost exclusively. If we can get enough supporters forwarding this message, we think it is possible to have some impact.
The National Pork Board also continues to make more conventional contact with media incorrectly referring the flu. Board President Tim Bierman recently sent a letter to more than two dozen of the top news executives of American media, asking them to use their influence to correct their news reports. This letter has been posted to StateNet along with the media addresses.
The National Pork Board continues to update state pork association executive directors with the most current information available.
Information distribution and follow-up with media.
The National Pork Board has posted specific biosecurity protocols for Novel H1N1 on pork.org under the H1N1 heading in the spotlight section.
SEPTEMBER 2009
H1N1 Webinars for retailers, media, foodservice and packers are completed. View media webinar(wmv file)
Specific biosecurity protocols for Novel H1N1 posted to pork.org. View documents.
A Spanish version of the current H1N1 talking points is now available.
USDA On-Farm Action Plan Announced for Novel 2009 H1N1 - Through a combined effort of state and federal animal health officials and pork producers, a comprehensive on-farm plan has been created to keep the pork industry moving as normal even if a U.S. herd is suspected or confirmed as being infected with the novel 2009 H1N1 virus. The plan addresses surveillance and actions recommended when novel H1N1 is confirmed. In these cases state animal health officials remain the primary source of reliable information regarding novel H1N1 in swine in their respective states and will be critical to the plan's successful implementation. Under this plan, the herd veterinarian will work with the state animal health official and the pork producer to monitor animals for illness. When the herd veterinarian has determined the animals have recovered, or under direction of the state animal health official, pigs would be allowed to move freely through production and market channels.
Thank you to Erin Cleary from the Illinois Pork Producers Association for bringing the recent MSNBC online article, What you need to know about Swine Flu, to the National Pork Board's attention. The MSNBC online article was referencing the traditional swine influenza fact sheet instead of current H1N1 information. The National Pork Board was able to reach out MSNBC and provide them with correct information. The link has been taken down. If states are finding inaccurate information out there like this and would like help in correcting it, please don't hesitate to contact the National Pork Board. We would rather receive information several times than not be aware.
Webinars are scheduled for packers, retailers, foodservice and ag media/dieticians. A representative from CDC as well as a representative from NADC will be presenting. The webinars will be recorded so states and producers can access them at a later date.
Coordinate desk side meetings with top national media and media influencers
Third party spokesperson training
On document is being written that outlines what will occur when a pig becomes infected with H1N1.
A Web site exclusively for retailers is housing research information, consumer information, point of sale materials and other relevant materials regarding H1N1.
The results from the H1N1 consumering message testing are being reviewd Based on the results of this message testing, the Checkoff is working to tweak our messages. USDA approval is needed before the National Pork Board can utilize consumer message,
A letter from NPB President Tim Bierman sent to major media outlets explaining the importance of the name H1N1 versus the use of "swine flu."
An H1N1 State Fair Kit is made available. The materials contain information for consumers as well as exhibitors.
A twitter campaign is being conducted through the American Farm Bureau to stress the importance of using the correct terminology H1N1. The twitter campaign will kick off on Sunday, August 16 Chris Chinn, a pork producer from Missouri will be taking the lead. You can follow her @chrischinn. Watch #oink for what other influential ag twitters have to say as well.
Consumer research is underway looking at the intent of consumers to purchase pork if H1N1 is found in the U.S. swine herd.
The National Pork Board is working to better understand potential uses and impact of a swine vaccine for H1N1.
The National Pork Board is working with the NPPC, AASV to coordinate a series of webinars on H1N1. These webinars would cover the information that we know to-date on H1N1 from experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Animal Disease Center and the National Pork Board. As the speakers get confirmed and dates are set, the states will be notified of the specifics of the various webinars.
National Pork Board meeting with PPIC to go over H1N1 planning.
The National Pork Board, NPPC, USMEF and AASV continue with weekly status conference calls to keep each other up to date on the operations plans and communications plans.
The National Pork Board has identified third party spokespeople and reached out to them to conduct some additional media training around potential talking points.
The National Pork Board has drafted a set of talking points that will be used for message testing with consumers for when H1N1 is found in the U.S. pig herd.
The National Pork Board is working on a kit to be distributed to fairs this summer with messaging around H1N1. The kit will contain consumer and producer information.
