Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/16/09

As the fall flu season begins and cases of H1N1 human virus are reported, the drum beat of industry and government officials continues in an attempt to clear up confusion that has damaged the pork industry.

This week the National Pork Producers Council briefed embassy officials on the H1N1 virus, reminding them that it doesn't come from hogs and you can't catch it from pork.

"We're all dealing with the H1N1 flu in our respective countries," NPPC CEO Neil Dierks told embassy officials from 25 countries at a reception with members of NPPC's board of directors. "We just need to remember that the flu is not a food-borne illness; you can't get the H1N1 flu from eating pork."

The NPPC briefing followed a Sept. 9 briefing by the Obama administration on the U.S. government's H1N1 response and surveillance efforts for trade officials from 30 countries.

On Sept. 10 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appealed to the news media to stop mislabeling the H1N1 virus. 

On Sept. 11 Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) sent letters to the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Newspaper Association and the Radio and Television News Directors Association making the same appeal: label H1N1 correctly and stop confusing it with swine flu, which sickens animals, though it also does not taint their meat products.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.