SALES OF PIG MEAT DROP IN N.I.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 1

SALES OF PIG MEAT DROP IN N.I.

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 2. Sales of pig meats in several places in the North Island have suffered as a result of the diagnosis of the disease trichinosis in a pig carcase at an Auckland freezing works.

This reaction is causing considerable concern in Wellington.

Departmental and trade officials said the risk of infection was very slight, and thorough cooking of pig meats removed all chance of contracting the disease. Late this afternoon, officers of the Department of Agriculture waited on the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) to report the progress of their efforts to ascertin the prevalence of the disease. The administrative director of the department (Mr G. J. Anderson) said he was satisfied every possible precaution had been taken to ensure that infested carcases were not sold for human consumption. He said the chances of a

person contracting the disease from New Zealand pig meats was “very, very remote.”

The department had not received replies to its inquiries overseas concerning the export of local pig meats, he said Australia and the United Kingdom were both major im-

porters of New Zealand pig meats.

Mr Anderson said the farms under quarantine were all dairy units on which pigs were kept as a sideline. Although the farms were under quarantine, milk and cream were still going from them to factories.