Pork Belly prices have fallen over 7 percent since the news of the Swine Flu erupted into a 24 hour news cycle panic. The market reaction is irrational according to agricultural economist Ronald Plain, who told the Financial Times that you cannot get inluenza through consumption of pork. Israeli health officials have called for a modification in the flu’s adopted name. The deputy health minister of Isreal, Yakov Litzman, has said that the term swine flu is upsetting to both Jews and Muslims who are forbidden to eat pork products. He suggested that instead it should be referred to as the Mexican Flu. That shouldn’t offend anyone.
