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Most of us have very little knowledge of where our food comes from or how it is produced. As a result, misinformation is widely circulated in many different forms – so to get to the real scoop on what’s going on, I’m a firm believer that there’s no one better to ask than a farmer himself. I [...]   This post is a continuation from yesterday’s H1N1 topic that explored Alberta Pork’s experiences at the centre of the H1N1 media storm earlier this year. The information is based on a presentation I attended by Lee Funke of Torque Communications at the recently held Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation conference in Edmonton. He outlined some of the challenges facing Alberta Pork’s response team – and their responses – at the height of the H1N1 crisis that struck Alberta when a herd of pigs was found to be infected with the influenza strain this past spring. Continue reading Alberta Pork’s H1N1 challenges, responses It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be at the centre of a media firestorm unless you’ve actually experienced it. For the staff at Alberta Pork and the communications professionals working with them, the spring of 2009 provided more first-hand experience than they could have ever wished for. Continue reading Inside Alberta Pork’s H1N1 war room The relationship many of us have with food is a lot like one we would have with a spouse, family member or friend. It can make us feel joy and inspire great passions – but can also evoke feelings of sadness, disappointment or guilt. We interact with it every day of our lives on many different levels and for most of us, it’s never far from our minds. But what is behind our complex relationship with food? And what are many of our notions and ideas about food based on?
Pandemic frenzy has taken hold as we grapple with this new flu that has emerged. It was quickly dubbed “swine flu” even though it really has nothing to do with pigs or pork – and that misnomer has led to all sorts of misinformation, dubious reports and irrational behaviours in countries right around the world. Continue reading Ending the flu frenzy over pigs and pork Canadians generally feel good about our food and the farmers who produce it, says a new study recently completed by Ipsos Reid. And although they are concerned about the economy and climate change, they’re confident in the safety of our meat, milk and eggs. Continue reading Canadian farmers evoke consumer confidence Last summer’s listeriosis outbreak has changed some Canadians’ eating habits, suggests a new survey by the University of Guelph. Almost 40 percent of consumers surveyed say they never eat ready-to-eat meats at home, up from only six percent from before the outbreak. And 56 percent say they never eat ready-to-eat-meat products in fast food outlets or restaurants, which is up from nine percent. Continue reading Consumer habits change post-listeriosis |   | |||||
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They’ve finally listened. Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced that they were re-naming what everyone’s been calling “swine flu” to H1N1 Influenza A.