H1N1, Pigs, and CAFOs: Oh My!
May 8th, 2009 By Aaron French
The possible, the probable, and even the unlikely links between the recent H1N1 “swine flu” outbreak and modern pork production have received unprecedented attention in the past weeks.
I have personally written three pieces on the flu (here, here, and here). My newspaper article in particular received a tsunami of feedback. While I might normally receive a handful or two of emails after each of my EcoChef columns, in this case I received nearly four times that amount. What was particularly interesting about the feedback was that is was so clearly bifurcated: praising me for exploring these issues and asking for more clarification or lambasting me for my ignorance and stupidity for writing such nonsense.
In my defense, I want to clearly point out that I have never claimed there was a direct link between the H1N1 and CAFOs, from the Mexican Smithfield plant or any other. Read More