DATE: April 28, 2009
TO: PMA Members
FROM: Dr. Bob Whitaker, Chief Science Officer
RE: Swine Flu Update
The virus responsible for the ongoing outbreak of human cases of Swine Influenza A (aka the H1N1 virus) in Mexico and the United States is not being transmitted by food, according to U.S. government sources.
Official U.S. sources that have already indicated to date that this flu is being spread by person-to-person transmission, and have ruled out foods, include the following.
· U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "Key Facts About Swine Influenza: "Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food."
· April 27 statement by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: "According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food".
Government sources also report that the U.S.-Mexican border remains open, as the current situation does not warrant its closure. CDC has issued a travel advisory for people, however, recommending against nonessential travel to Mexico. This does not affect food shipments.
Whatever country you grow, ship, process or sell produce from, we all share the same commitment to providing consumers with safe and healthy produce, every bite, every time. While we recognize that every individual company must make its own decisions, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that fresh produce or any other food is a potential carrier. CDC reports that the disease appears to be transferred similarly to other, more common forms of flu that is, by coming in contact with an infected individual.
For more information about the outbreak and how to minimize risk of infection, visit CDC's swine flu Web page. Consumers expressing any concerns about produce safety should be reassured that this is not a foodborne illness outbreak; for further advice, refer them to the Partnership for Food Safety Education's "Fight Bac!" campaign Web site.
PMA will continue to monitor this situation and will share key new developments with you as they become available. You can access this and other PMA Issue Alerts via PMA's Issue Alerts Web page.
If you have questions, please contact me or PMA Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Kathy Means. If you are a member of the media, or if you need assistance with media inquiries, please contact PMA Public Relations Director Julia Stewart or PMA Chief Operating Office Lorna Christie.
This alert is a PMA member benefit; if it was forwarded to you, you can contact the PMA Solution Center at solutionctr@pma.com or +1 (302) 738-7100 to be added to the list of people at member companies who receive these alerts. You are receiving this message because PMA believes you will benefit from this information. If you have any concerns about mailings of this type, please contact PMA's Solution Center.
TO: PMA Members
FROM: Dr. Bob Whitaker, Chief Science Officer
RE: Swine Flu Update
The virus responsible for the ongoing outbreak of human cases of Swine Influenza A (aka the H1N1 virus) in Mexico and the United States is not being transmitted by food, according to U.S. government sources.
Official U.S. sources that have already indicated to date that this flu is being spread by person-to-person transmission, and have ruled out foods, include the following.
· U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "Key Facts About Swine Influenza: "Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food."
· April 27 statement by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: "According to scientists at USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food".
Government sources also report that the U.S.-Mexican border remains open, as the current situation does not warrant its closure. CDC has issued a travel advisory for people, however, recommending against nonessential travel to Mexico. This does not affect food shipments.
Whatever country you grow, ship, process or sell produce from, we all share the same commitment to providing consumers with safe and healthy produce, every bite, every time. While we recognize that every individual company must make its own decisions, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that fresh produce or any other food is a potential carrier. CDC reports that the disease appears to be transferred similarly to other, more common forms of flu that is, by coming in contact with an infected individual.
For more information about the outbreak and how to minimize risk of infection, visit CDC's swine flu Web page. Consumers expressing any concerns about produce safety should be reassured that this is not a foodborne illness outbreak; for further advice, refer them to the Partnership for Food Safety Education's "Fight Bac!" campaign Web site.
PMA will continue to monitor this situation and will share key new developments with you as they become available. You can access this and other PMA Issue Alerts via PMA's Issue Alerts Web page.
If you have questions, please contact me or PMA Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Kathy Means. If you are a member of the media, or if you need assistance with media inquiries, please contact PMA Public Relations Director Julia Stewart or PMA Chief Operating Office Lorna Christie.
This alert is a PMA member benefit; if it was forwarded to you, you can contact the PMA Solution Center at solutionctr@pma.com or +1 (302) 738-7100 to be added to the list of people at member companies who receive these alerts. You are receiving this message because PMA believes you will benefit from this information. If you have any concerns about mailings of this type, please contact PMA's Solution Center.
