Food Animal Concerns Trust

The VISION of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) is that one day all farms will be humane and healthy places to raise food animals.

The MISSION of Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) is to improve the welfare of food animals; broaden opportunities for humane farmers; and address public health problems that come from the production of meat, milk and eggs.

In response to the recent outbreak of “swine flu,” Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) would like to reiterate one of the basic premises of the organization: factory farming is not only inhumane for farm animals but also a major factor behind important public health problems. Large populations of animals are raised in confined conditions on factory farms. The unsanitary and crowded conditions on factory farms not only create health problems for the animals trapped within them but pose huge threats for human health as well.

The new flu strain causing the ongoing epidemic is a type of flu (H1N1) that normally affects swine and infrequently their handlers. In this case the flu has acquired genes from human and bird flu viruses. This combination of genes has likely increased the flu’s ability to transmit between humans. H1N1 is of particular concern because most people have never been exposed to it, increasing the odds of infection. Although it is likely that confinement swine operations in Mexico or other regions of the world contributed to the outbreak, the direct association has not been positively established at this time. H1N1 is now being transmitted between humans. The current risk of infection comes from exposure to infected people, not from eating pork or contact with pigs.

FACT is committed to reducing the negative impacts of confinement agriculture on human health. While the source of the new flu strain has not yet been determined, we will continue to monitor the situation and act accordingly.

FACT has joined Facebook! Are you interested in interacting with people who care about animal welfare and public health? Now is your chance. FACT recently started a Facebook group where people can join our discussion board, get up-to- date news and learn about upcoming events. Join a community committed to making farms healthy and humane places to raise animals. Click here to become a member of today and invite others to join as well!