All About the Pig: Why is This Animal Always the Object of so Much Hate and Controversy?

A recent Los Angeles Times article (October 27, 2006) stated that a wild pig may have played a part in the spread of E. coli that has been found in our California-grown vegetables as of recent. The E.coli epidemic is really causing a controversy this time around because vegetables like spinach and onions that can be eaten raw are being contaminated and just rinsing them is not enough. Viruses such as this once that get into the fibers of meats and vegetables can only be killed with a proper amount of heat. Would you say that if farmers kept pigs away, the entire world may see a drop in disease and illness in general? Well, this attitude actually goes back to Biblical times (Isaiah 66:17) which leads us to what is a contradictory stereotype and what are the facts.

HISTORY
Pigs, also known as swine, or hogs are part of the porcine family and there are more than 70 breeds all over the world. They come in different colors and body shapes . Some have all over body hair and even grow beards and ear hair. Like humans, they are intended to be lean animals, weighing an average of 100-150 lbs. Studies have shown them to be intelligent and have a sharp sense of smell but poor eyesight.

HYGIENE and OVERALL HEALTH
History shows that certain pigs have consumed everything from body waste to bugs due to unsanitary conditions. In my findings, pigs are as clean as the farmers who raise pigs want them to be. Some of us have a genetic predisposition to illness based on the diet we grew up on, race and enviromental factors. Sometimes this can be reversed over time, sometimes not. Just as our digestive systems are intended to consume grains, vegetables and fruits for a healthy body, the same is intended for all animals. Yet, if we grew up eating meats that are not fully cooked, then we are making ourselves susceptible to illness and parasites. According to goveg.com, negligent pork farmers in North Carolina would recycle hog body waste into a liquified mist to be sprayed into the open air so as to get around water pollution limits. Pig farms located in areas that do not have an adequate sewage treatment system also chance contaminating nearby waters where fish and other seafood are caught and eaten. So while measures are being taken to make sure that pigs live in clean conditions that include automatic pressure washers and are not injected with growth hormones, studies have also proven that the excess of fat cells in any body attracts toxins so a plumper pig does not make for better pork. Some pork producers inject hormones to accelerate growth in hopes of getting bigger profits. So inner cleanliness counts more than outer since pigs do not sweat because they do not have the glands to do so. True, they around roll in mud, or water to keep cool and as long as both are clean and do not contain fecal matter, the chance of getting sick from eating pork is reduced. Also, the mud protects them from insect bites; also culprits in spreading diseases to others. With all these environmental factors to be dealt with, this can cause a hog to be stressed. Yep, the same kind of stress that affects humans to the point where the immune system is weakened. That, along with excess fat can make a pig less than healthy overall.

AS A DINNER GUEST
Pork is believed to be the most comsumed meat in the world. Followers of both the Jewish and Muslims faith are excluded from this count as well as vegetarians. There are many, like myself, who place limits on their yearly pork consumption. One reason being its high salt content and my family history of high blood pressure (in my adult years, this has elevated only when placed in stressful situations). Salt, sugar and nitrites are the main ingredients used to cure pork products, mostly ham and bacon. Curing is a way to preserve meat and sometimes bring added flavor. There are different types which include wet, dry, smoke (like a very slow barbeque). Some feel this is this only way to eat pork, otherwise there is a risk of getting sick. All meat should be cooked thoroughly prior to eating and pork is definitely not the exception. According to therealtruth.org, cooking pork in heat up to five hundred degrees Farenheit, will not always kill bacteria found in pork!

Stilll not ready to change over to a beef ,poultry or soy substitute? Check out Organic Valley at www.organicvalley.coop. Their pork homepage sounds like a vacation getaway for hogs until it comes time to join someone for a meal.

TRENDY SWINE
Back in the early to mid 1990's, a person had to live high on the hog in order to afford a Potbellied Pig. For a spell they were companions for celebrities and though they were never thought of as food, raising them was a job itself. Like farm hogs (and people) their diet had to be watched closely because they could get as heavy as three hundred pounds and become ill. Though they have a playful disposition and are affectionate, they can still become a handful. In fact, someone with the endurance of a kindergarten teacher should consider them as pets.

OTHER HOLLYWOOD HOGS
Even with these facts presented to me, I still love Porky and do not see him the way I see (or try not to see) mice and rats. The animated flick, Charlotte's Web, based on the E.B. White's children's classic, is being released over the holidays.