Ice Cream Recall & Bird Flu Response

Ice Cream Recall & Bird Flu Response plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

An outbreak of avian influenza in a backyard flock of guinea fowl and chickens has caused the State of Oregon to activate a multi-agency response plan. There is no immediate public health concern due to the avian influenza virus detected in Oregon. The H5N8 avian influenza virus was confirmed in the small poultry flock in Winston, Oregon. The flock of approximately 100 birds has access to the outdoors. A pond and a marsh on the premises are frequented by migratory birds. Backyard flock owners can report sick birds to the State Veterinarian's office. Wild bird mortality surveillance is routinely conducted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There's trouble in ice cream land following a recall by Snoqualmie Ice Cream of all products made between Jan. 1 and Dec. 21, 2014 due to a possible listeria contamination. That includes Snoqualmie Ice Cream, Gelato, Custard, and Sorbet, Emerald & Spruce Ice Cream, and Top Pot Hand Forged Ice Cream. Several retail outlets have either been closed or pulled Snoqualmie products while an investigation continues.

And USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service has extended the public comment period on the Conservation Stewardship Program interim rule. Public comments will be accepted through January 20, 2015.

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

A while back animal rights activists proposed that animals should have the same moral and legal rights, with legal representation, as humans. Now a Canadian professor and animal liberation activist is proposing that domestic animals and livestock be given legal citizenship. Yes, you heard that correctly. There are already laws in place to protect animals from abuse, but the professor wants us to go much further than just treating animals better. Of course when you get to the nitty gritty of his argument it boils down to an anti-meat eating agenda. Doesn't it always? And he doesn't just want everyone to become vegetarians, he wants us to all be come vegans, because as he sees it dairy cows are just slaves. When pushed on the subject though he admits that dairy cows could be considered as employed citizens. When it comes to animal welfare the professor's heart may be in the right place, but his brain sure seems to have gone missing.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.