Ahead Of Bell: Analysts Assess Swine Flu Outbreak

NEW YORK (AP) — Some estimates for Smithfield Foods Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. were lowered by a JPMorgan analyst on Monday, partly on swine flu outbreak concerns.

Ken Goldman said he dropped some the two pork processors' quarterly estimates on consumer worries, but also because of softer pork processing margins.

"Though there is no evidence that swine flu can be obtained by eating pork, the fear generated by a disease named after hogs cannot be good for pork consumption," he wrote in a client note.

A query by Goldman of some grocers' meat departments last night indicated that they are beginning to get swine flu questions from shoppers. While consumers probably can't catch the virus from pork, Goldman said this likely won't stop some people from steering clear of the meat until the outbreak wanes.

While concerns over a swine flu outbreak intensified Monday, U.S. pork producers sought over the weekend to reassure consumers that their product is safe. The industry-funded National Pork Board said it "wishes to reassure the public that pork is safe and will continue to be safe to consume."