piggy_bankWhat’s that you say? Smithfield claims that they are awaiting the results of “additional” tests on the pigs at their Veracruz, Mexico, CAFO — the facility at the heart of speculation here on Grist and elsewhere as the source of the current swine flu outbreak — to determine if any pigs are infected. And just in case you were wondering, Smithfield is fully aware of who’s “driving” the CAFO/swine flu meme, if their CEO is to be believed (reg req’d):

In a letter to employees, [CEO C. Larry] Pope wrote that the results of those independent laboratory tests will be available and made public in a few days.

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He issued the letter, meant to assure employees that Smithfield is taking steps to ensure their safety and that of the company’s pig herds, after international media reports indicated a link between the outbreak and a jointly owned hog farm in Veracruz. Veracruz is located near La Gloria, home to a little boy some believe to be the original H1N1 case.

“Unfortunately, the media and bloggers have jumped to conclusions based more on fear than fact and have sensationalized a serious illness,” Pope wrote.

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Watch your back, Philpott.