Pork panic

“We buy pork from selected farms,which have assured of quality,but we chose to take the precaution. We plan to keep pork off the menu till the disease is tackled,” said Vijay Kapoor,owner,Chinese Room

Dipon Mukherjee,executive chef at Lemon Tree,Hinjewadi,said they stopped buying fresh pork after clearing the earlier stock. “We will not serve pork till the government releases a report of its survey to ensure that India is not affected. We are replacing pork ham and salami with chicken salami and other chicken products. Demand for pork usually declines in summer and the swine flu news has made it more undesirable.”

Debrah Mascarenhas,a software engineer from Goa and fond of pork,has given it up. “I eat pork when in Goa as the pigs are bred in homes,are given home food and are thus safe. I am avoiding pork in Pune,where I don’t know the source,” said Mascarenhas.

The Place – Touché the Sizzler is going on as usual. Farida Vachha,general manager,said,“It’s too early to comment. It is suggested that well cooked meat is not a risk and pork is usually doubly cooked. Even ham and sausages are boiled and packed,” she said.

Going by pork sales,however,the scare hasn’t reached consumers yet. Suppliers reported no dip in sales.

Asawari Godbole,manager,Sunny Dales,said,“People are buying pork as usual. The disease has not come to India.” He was wary about business being possibly affected later.