Minister's Statement

Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky issued the following statement today with regard to the H1N1 influenza virus:

I want to assure you that it is safe to eat Ontario pork.

Today, media reported that the World Health Organization cautioned that meat from sick animals or animals that are found dead should not be consumed. In Ontario, sick animals and deadstock do not enter the food chain.  All animals are inspected prior to slaughter to ensure they are healthy. 

Ontario producers continue to employ strict biosecurity measures.

We will continue to work closely with Ontario’s pork industry to promote consumer awareness of Ontario pork and encourage Ontarians to keep buying this high-quality product.

To date, no cases of this new, H1N1 influenza virus have been identified in Ontario swine. 

LEARN MORE

About Public Health Information on the H1N1 Flu Virus

About Information for the Agriculture Sector on the H1N1 Flu Virus

For more information, contact:

Sherry Persaud, Minister's Office, 416-326-6439
Brent Ross, Communications Branch, 416-326-9342