Honey Baked Ham - Hand Selected for Leanness

Swine Flu statement

With the President of the United States recently declaring swine flu a national health emergency, many people are concerned about the illness. We have asked Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Barbara Masters, former administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, to answer some of the questions that are top of mind to families as they gather this holiday season.

Question:	H1N1 is also called "swine flu." Can I get H1N1 if I eat ham or shop in a store that sells ham? Dr. Gerberding: No. The H1N1 virus is not spread by food. The virus was originally referred to as "swine flu" because lab tests showed that many of the genes in this new virus were similar to those in a virus that affects pigs (swine). The risk of H1N1 is NOT from the food supply, but from human contact. The primary defense against H1N1 is to avoid contact with infected people.
Questions:	Is ham safe to eat and send to family and loved ones this holiday season? Dr. Masters: Yes. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, you cannot get the H1N1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Of course you should always pay attention to common-sense food safety precautions. Like with any food product, whether it is purchased in a store or received in the mail, be sure that the ham is still properly packaged and follow proper storage and preparation directions.
Question:	What precautions do HoneyBaked Ham employees take to ensure they remain safe and healthy while preparing food products? Dr. Masters: As with any food retailer, The HoneyBaked Ham Company must follow strict sanitary and health standards, for the health and safety of its own employees, as well as for customers who enjoy HoneyBaked Ham products. Dr. Gerberding: All people, whether they are employees or consumers, should follow basic hygiene rules: clean your hands, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and stay home when you are sick.
Question:	Are there regular safety checks done on HoneyBaked food products to ensure they are safe to eat? Dr. Masters: The meat industry is one of the most regulated of all food industries in the United States. HoneyBaked Ham, like other meat distributors, is heavily regulated by a total of nine federal agencies serving as "watchdogs" to assure that meat presented to consumers is safe. With inspection procedures ranging from operational sanitization to labeling and product standards, the FSIS-USDA is responsible for administering a comprehensive system of inspection regulations to ensure that meat products intended for human consumption are wholesome and accurately labeled.
Question:	What is the H1N1 virus? Dr. Gerberding: The H1N1 virus is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. It spreads from one person to another just like regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Question:	How can I stay healthy and not get H1N1? Dr. Gerberding: Use the same common sense steps that apply to flu prevention every year. Keep your hands clean, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and stay home when you are sick. You should receive the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine if advised by your healthcare provider.
Question:	What should I do if I think I have H1N1 flu? Dr. Gerberding: Stay home and take basic precautions like keeping your hands clean and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough to help protect others in your household. Call your healthcare provider and ask for advice about the symptoms you are experiencing and medical treatments that might be helpful, especially if you or household members have other medical conditions. Also, if they haven�t done so already, household members and other people who have a lot of contact with you should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Question:	Where can I find more information on the H1N1 virus? Dr. Gerberding: For more information about H1N1, you can go to the following websites: www.cdc.gov, www.nih.org, or www.ami.org. Dr. Masters: You can also go to http://www.usda.gov/H1N1flu, www.ami.org, or http://www.pork.org/NewsAndInformation/default.aspx.

Each HoneyBaked Ham is hand-selected for leanness, smoked up to 24 hours, then spiral-sliced to the bone so each tender, juicy slice is easy to serve.