New Zealand-Is pork safe to eat.

NEW ZEALAND-PORK IS SAFE TO EAT.

Consumers should not be put off eating pork because swine flu is not spread through food, the pork industry says.

Pork New Zealand says though the H1N1 influenza A virus, called swine flu, may have originated in pigs, it is a human health risk because it is being transmitted from human to human.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that it is safe to eat all pork products, the industry says in a statement.

"Swine influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork," the WHO said.

"Swine influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 70degC."

Though New Zealand has never recorded a case of swine flu in farmed pigs, the pork industry says it is reminding farmers to be vigilant around disinfecting and cleaning, visitor access to farms and to "ensure staff do not work with pigs if they have flu-like symptoms".

Any unusual pig health issues should be discussed with a veterinarian, a spokesman for Pork NZ says.

Symptoms of swine flu in pigs include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and loss of appetite.