Pig outlook: Lean hog futures bulls stabilize prices

The lean hog futures market is pausing this week, which slightly favors the bullish camp. However, buying interest has been limited by cash hog and fresh pork market fundamentals that have shown weakness recently. The latest CME lean hog index is down another $1.00 to $107.33 as of July 7. Thursday’s projected cash price is down 29 cents at $107.04. The national direct five-day rolling average cash hog price quote Wednesday was $111.12. Pork packer margins are firmly in the red, suggesting the decline from seasonal highs in the cash and product markets will continue as hog slaughter numbers are likely to gradually start to build.

Latest USDA and other news regarding the global pork industry

Gene-edited bacon arrives without labels: Is consumer trust at risk?

Lack of transparency around CRISPR pork sparks debate over labeling, choice and food system trust

In his recent column, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois warns that gene-edited meat is coming to Canada — without the transparency or labeling consumers might expect. The says the arrival of CRISPR-edited pork, approved by the US FDA and entering the North American market as soon as next year, poses a fundamental challenge: “Whether or not gene-edited meat poses a food safety risk isn’t the central issue. The issue is whether consumers have the right to know how their food was produced.”