Swine Flu: Is Cheap Meat to Blame?

Reader Comments
Back to blog

"Free range," "pastured," and other labels like that sound nice, but unfortunately, they can often legally be used on meat from farms that are a far cry from the traditional farms they make you think of. And some, like "natural," don't mean anything at all.
As I see it, we have three choices: (1) Educate ourselves about what the labels really, legally mean; (2) Buy our meat and other animal products direct from local farmers (e.g., at farmers' markets), and ask them questions about how their animals are raised; (3) Don't eat meat or animal products at all.
Well, I guess there's a fourth choice - only eat meat from animals you raise yourself. But not many of us are prepared to do that in this day and age.

Johanna of MD 3:56PM April 30, 2009

Just a thought: The most common cause of epilepsy in Mexico (cystercercosis) requires pigs in its life cycle. Cystercercosis is the most common central nervous system parasite. Now swine flu (remains to be seen how many die) also requires pigs in its life cycle. Should industrialized pig farms be considered a public health risk and outlawed? Think about the economic costs of epilepsy and just this 1 outbreak of swine flu will cost Mexico.

Jon from Iowa of IA 11:50AM April 30, 2009

Appreciate the information. We can make better choices the more we are educated about our food sources. I would suggest readers see documentary "King Korn" for adddition information.

Jennifer of SC 10:06AM April 30, 2009