THERE'S no doubt about it, food is going through a tough time. But forget about BSE and beef, pork and antibiotics for a moment. Now it's the humble ostrich which is in danger of getting the cold shoulder from consumers.

The Margin notes that there has just been a major scare regarding an ostrich abattoir near Johannesburg. One woman has died and at least 21 other workers have tested positive after an outbreak of the deadly Congo Fever. It seems that workers probably contracted the virus while handling contaminated meat.