WASHINGTON (AP) — Experts testifying to Congress say the pork industry is facing one of its worst struggles in memory and that an unwanted link to swine flu is exacerbating problems.
National Pork Producers Council President Don Butler and other industry experts testified to a House Agriculture subcommittee on Thursday.
Butler says media labeling the H1N1 flu virus as "swine flu" caused a short-term reduction in pork prices and that research by the pork industry has shown a lasting negative connotation for some consumers.
He says the flu outbreak has also hit producers in export markets, which were a bright spot before bans from several key markets were put in place.
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