ASF in Meat: How to Identify Dangerous Pork and Protect Yourself

African Swine Fever in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: African Swine Fever (ASF) remains one of the main threats to Ukraine's agricultural sector in 2025. The mortality rate among affected animals is almost 100%, leading to significant livestock losses - total losses are estimated to reach up to 2 million heads in the 2024-2025 cycle. As a result, pork prices have risen to 100 UAH per kilogram of live weight. ASF outbreaks have been observed in 12 regions of Ukraine in the first half of 2025, causing concern among consumers.

Vaccination and Recommendations for Consumers

In June 2025, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) approved an international standard for the ASF vaccine, and in Ukraine, the vaccination strategy and products were presented in the fall of 2025. However, consumers must be especially cautious when purchasing meat, as the ASF virus can remain in frozen meat indefinitely, and in smoked products – for over 5 months, in salted meat – up to a year. The only way to destroy the pathogen is through prolonged thermal treatment, which must last at least an hour at a temperature of 50°C.

The main signs of low-quality meat include:

• specific unpleasant odor;
• atypical color of the product.

Recommendations for purchasing meat advise choosing products with veterinary documentation and avoiding suspiciously cheap offers. Oleksandr, one of the consumers, comments:

“There is no such mess as there used to be, they sold whatever they had.” - Oleksandr

During ASF outbreaks, all livestock within a radius of 3 km must be destroyed, which underlines the seriousness of the situation and the need for quality control of meat.

The situation with African Swine Fever requires urgent measures to ensure food safety and the stability of the agricultural market in Ukraine. The introduction of the ASF vaccine may become a key step in the fight against this disease, however, it is essential for consumers to follow recommendations regarding meat selection to avoid health risks. Quality control of products and timely response to disease outbreaks remain critically important to prevent further losses in agriculture.