Source: Xinhua

04-30-2009 10:25

WASHINGTON, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday insisted its food supply is safe and pork meat does not transmit the swine influenza virus.

"The American food supply is safe," U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and the head of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said in a statement.

"USTR and USDA are working closely with the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor the situation carefully," they said.

In their statement, Kirk and Vilsack cited references from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC statements that there was no evidence of swine flu being transmitted by meat.

"Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products," the statements said. "Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe."

Stressing potential concerns about the safety of U.S. pork and pork products, Vilsack stated that "while there is no evidence at this time that swine has been infected with this virus, the science is clear that consuming or handling pork, consistent with safe handling practices, is of no risk to consumers."

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