This little piggy went to market with Salmonella

Pigs raised without antibiotics are more likely to carry bacteria and parasites, according to a new study done at Ohio State University's Vet school.

While consumers are increasing demand for pork produced without antibiotics, more of the pigs raised in such conditions carry bacteria and parasites associated with food-borne illnesses, according to a new study.

A comparison of swine raised in antibiotic-free and conventional pork production settings revealed that pigs raised outdoors without antibiotics had higher rates of three food-borne pathogens than did pigs on conventional farms, which remain indoors and receive preventive doses of antimicrobial drugs.

More than half of the pigs on antibiotic-free farms tested positive for Salmonella, compared to 39 percent of conventionally raised pigs infected with the bacterial pathogen. The presence of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite was detected in 6.8 percent of antibiotic-free pigs, compared to 1.1 percent of conventionally raised pigs. And two naturally raised pigs of the total 616 sampled tested positive for Trichinella spiralis, a parasite considered virtually eradicated from conventional U.S. pork operations. http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/porkfarms.htm

Let's not forget the Silent Spring fall out. More Africans have died from malaria since environmentalists took DDT off the market for mosquito control than ever died in the trans-atlantic slave trade. Lots of "natural" things can kill you. Mold, for instance. Nothing more resilient and natural than a bacteria strain or raging virus.