12 August,2009 11:10 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Pork sales in city drop by 60 per cent despite assurances by WHO experts that pig meat cooked at temperatures above 160 degrees is absolutely safeu00a0u00a0
There are no known instances of a pig having contracted swine flu in India. Even breeders as well as pork vendors are making repeated announcements that pork is completely safe if cooked at 160 degrees and above.
Despite these facts, pork sales continue to decline.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Pork sales at most restaurants and other establishments have dropped by nearly 60 per cent, and no one is buying pork any more. Dr Avinash Bhondwe, former president of Indian Medical Association, said, "Though swine flu originated from pigs, there are no reports of any pigs having contracted the disease in India. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also vouched that thoroughly cooked pork is safe, as no virus can survive such high temperatures. However, people are fearful and this is stopping them from buying pork."
Pork Sellers Association president Kiran Hariprasad Pardeshi, said, "Following the swine flu deaths, a panic has gripped the public and our businesses have suffered as a result. Big restaurants and hotels are not buying pork because people are too scared to eat pork. As a result, sales have declined by 60 per cent," said Pardeshi, who supplies to Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa and Chennai.
Gopal Sadguru Pawar, yet another pork seller, said, "It is becoming extremely difficult to make ends meet because sales have declined rather drastically."u00a0
Agreed Arun Nayyar, managing director, Hotel Pride, "Yes, it is a fact that consumption of pork has drastically declined. People won't take any chances, so we are ordering less of the stuff."
