EDMONTON — Canada's minister of international trade says a Chinese ban on Alberta pork over fears of swine flu is "disappointing and unwarranted."
Stockwell Day says the federal government is attempting to "clarify" the situation with China.
The flu was discovered in a herd of pigs on a central Alberta farm where it apparently was passed onto the animals by a worker who had recently travelled to Mexico.
Day, whose spokeswoman emailed his comments as he was boarding a plane for Latvia, pointed out that scientific evidence suggests people cannot contract the H1N1 virus by eating properly cooked pork.
He added there is no food safety concern related to the infected herd in Alberta.
Day says officials are talking to countries that have brought in or are considering a ban to make sure they have the scientific information to make an informed decision.