« Writer puts his body on the line at base of Telegraph Hill trees | Main | Dog Radio! Woof FM »
November 07, 2005
Sauerkraut A Cure for Bird Flu?
Korean researchers say the way to ward off the threat of avian flu may be sitting right in your kitchen cupboard -- or on the brat you eat during Sunday's Packers game. It's sauerkraut -- and the world's largest manufacturer is right in our own back yard.
The Great Lakes Kraut Company in Bear Creek learned this week that most chickens infected with avian flu recovered after eating ground-up sauerkraut.
The company president says in a way, the news isn't surprising. "We know that sauerkraut is a healthy food to start out with, as it relates to cancer and other diseases," said Ryan Downs.
If the Korean research proves to be accurate, a weekly diet of some of this sauerkraut would help stave off the effects of avian flu.
Great Lakes Kraut's product may be what a lot of us will be eating should an avian flu pandemic break out. While excited over what it could mean for business, Great Lakes is taking a cautious approach.
"We have to give a little more time to make certain this indeed does act as a preventative for avian flu," Downs added.
Downs says the best part is this year's record harvest of 150,000 tons of sauerkraut would be enough to take care of everyone in the United States and Canada.
Grocery stores say as word about this gets out, there's bound to be a run on sauerkraut. "This is going to impact all grocery stores," Mark Anderson at Woodman's Supermarket predicted, "and everyone is going to pull, so we're going to have to get on it right away and get some back stock so we don't run out."
Great Lakes, which makes most brand names, says it's ready to go so stores won't run out.
Posted by sue at November 7, 2005 11:16 AM
Comments
You have a very talented and skilled writting. I had a great time reading.
Posted by: Ian Blanton at February 18, 2006 12:27 PM