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CANADA IS CURRENTLY in the grip of what is known as the Bacopalypse.
Prices have sky-rocketed over the past couple of months, with the most recent consumer price index (CPI) revealing a 5.8% month-on-month increase, and 26% year-over-year.
That’s slightly down from the 9.3% increase recorded in May.
This is seemingly down to a virus, as Elena Holodny at Business Insider reports:
Bacon prices have been significantly increasing because of supply issues. In June, there was a breakout of a pig virus which led to the killing of millions of baby pigs.
This porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has hit herds badly.
However, in Ireland, we’re currently okay.
Pat O’Flaherty, chair of the Irish Farmers Association’s pigs committee, told TheJournal.ie that PEDV hasn’t made its way to our shores yet, but that farmers must remain vigilant.
“We believe Ireland is the healthiest country in terms of pigs, mainly because we’re an island nation,” he explained.
There are huge concerns about PEDV, mainly because it’s unclear how it spreads and whether it could reach Ireland through something like imported food, but Irish farmers are very strict on biosecurity.
Consumer Price Index figures for Pork from Canada also show a sharp increase, but here in Ireland, the price has dropped every so slightly in the same period (our own CSO dropped bacon from the CPI some years ago, so a direct comparison to bacon isn’t possible).
O’Flaherty noted that we have a relatively stable market in terms of the price of pork in shops, but that it can vary “week to week, or even day to day” for farmers.
“This is sometimes the gripe of the producers. We’re wondering why we take the hit when prices in the shop can remain stable.”
So there’s no need to stockpile rashers, there’s no need to run out and start hoarding pigs – Ireland’s pork is safe for now.
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Aporkalypse Now. This is the End, My Oinking Friend.
I am very disappointed that Nicky chose the awful, awkward ‘Pork-pocalypse’ over the infinitely more elegant ‘Aporkalypse’ for his headline. He’ll never move on from the journal to bigger things unless he cuts out them blunders.
… I might have to change it…
Damn Eric and his finely honed, analytical mind. Be like one of us, be our champion…err.
Hamateur stuff.
Eh, “this little (Irish) piggy went to (Canadian) market” anyone??
No, no that’s just juvenile.
Your ma is juvenile Jack
“Too Pig To Fail”
Trot on Michelle! Pig products….Mmmmm
If you knew the reality of how pigs are treated, the pain and suffering they go through and how their little lifes are cut short, most would go vegan. I am not part of this and so glad but it breaks my heart to see and hear how other sentient beings treat pigs like a joke, and ridicule their life. Show some respect and dignity for mankind, GO VEGAN!
Ah Michelle…it’s Sunday morning. Give it a rest love.
Unfortunately a full irish and bacon and cabbage just doesnt taste the same without the pig being involved :-)
You should have just lettuce us alone
We like chewing our meat to the bone
I’m having roast pork for dinner
Apple sauce on top will be the winner
So in a few hours that little piggy will be gone
Michelle if God didn’t want us to eat animals s/he wouldn’t have made them or of meat!
Nothing like a bit of bacon Michelle…. let your hair down a little. Tasty, tasty , tasty!
In ireland actually pigs are treated seriously well. They have to housed at exactly the right temperature, no over crowding, with no drafts, fed the correct food for their diet. The fact is pigs are really sensitive animals so any change in temp or even spooking pigs leads them to lose piglets in pregnancy and also if pigs r misharmed before being killed, the chemical they produce from fear leads to their meat spoiling. So they have to be treated extremely well. For selfish reasons maybe but better than not.
Cheers for the heads up Michelle, I’m going to eat even more meat now that I know your portion is going spare.
Liz, anywhere I can read more info on that, do they have much space to live in?
I’m not a vegetarian and I know no one likes a preacher but pretty much humiliating and laughing off Michelle for pointing out something that’s more than likely true is a bit much. Especially given the fact that pigs are incredibly intelligent meaning their likelihood of suffering is much higher.
Adrian I was in no way trying to humilate anyone. Im sorry to michelle if it came across that way. Apologies for trying to point out the facts. Ive never researched this on the web so I don’t know where u would find those answers there but feel free to actually put some work into it yourself instead of trying to call me out first. My info comes from the course I did in college and working on a pig Farm as part of this. What i stated was totally accurate for my experience. I don’t think its fair to vilify pig farmers for something that isnt true.
My comment wasn’t directed at yourself at all (just realised it probably looked like it was) , more at the demeaning jokes and comments.
And I have to say that for you to state that I was humiliating and laughing off another person is really offending. I would never do that. A rational point is always met by some personal slur on here. And I in noway responded to michelle in the way you did to me. A logical discussion would’ve been nice but I’m not going to rise to it again as I feel silly enough already so good day.
Sorry Adrian, just saw you posted that while I was writing. Appreciate you clearing it up. I was getting myself way too riled up for a Sunday morning. Thanks
The fact 200 odd people gave this a thumbs down is pretty sad, shows what an awful selfish uncompassionate bunch of loathsome pigs most of us are. Burying your heads in the sand bssically, I think the thumbs down came because you lot know its true and you just cant face the reality that you and I are complicit in horrible suffering. At least own it you pathetic lot.
Who gives a Rashers?
Don’t mess with me rashers and sausages
Offal-y bad news
Very deceptive using graphs that don’t start at 0
Don’t worry I’m well use to ridicule! The truth of the horror of what I found out a few years ago will always drive me to advocate for other sentient beings who sadly have no voice. It is just such a shame that very very few of you have actually really read up and researched the whole subject around the suffering of animals. When or even if you do you will never sleep properly again….I never will.
No mention of the horrific factory farming that causes this- just how it will effect our guts. Google ‘ pigs farm sanctuary’ and also gestation crates. Pure unadulterated torture.
I’ve given up pork due to my Christian bible
You can’t educate pork
Rather that than a Dioxin scandal.
Seems like it wasn’t so long as as 2008!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Irish_pork_crisis
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