European network launched to enhance game meat safety

According to a BfR press release, the European network 'Safety in the Game Meat Chain' aims to minimise both chemical and microbial risks associated with game meat obtained through hunting.

Game meat, derived from animals like red deer, wild boar, and pheasant, is among the foods with the smallest ecological footprint, as these animals grow up in the wild and feed on natural sources. However, their exposure to environmental contaminants and the potential for carrying zoonotic pathogens pose health risks for consumers.

BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel expressed the network's ambitious goals, stating, "Our goal is to make this valuable animal-derived food as safe as possible both in Europe and worldwide. We aim to minimise both chemical and microbial risks as much as possible."

The 'Safety in the Game Meat Chain' network currently comprises 29 countries, including EU member states and non-EU nations like those in the Western Balkans, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. Over the next four years, the network's five working groups will focus on hunting and processing, game meat trade networks and the supply chain, as well as various biological and chemical hazards. These groups will compile and evaluate research activities from the national level.

The network promotes collaboration with academia, industry, governmental institutions, and consumers to translate knowledge into actions along the entire production chain "from forest to fork." This approach encompasses not only the mitigation of environmental contaminants but also the reduction of the input of heavy metals, particularly lead, from hunting ammunition.

Biological hazards such as Trichinella larvae, bacterial zoonotic agents like Salmonella and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), and viruses like hepatitis E (HEV) in wild boars will also be addressed. The network will assess the risks of both chemical and microbial origin that may arise during the processing and trade of game meat to disseminate scientific knowledge and align food safety standards across borders.

Furthermore, the network seeks to gain insights into diverse hunting and training practices, national legal regulations, and standards on meat inspection and hygiene for game meat in each country. The aim is to enhance and harmonise safety standards for cross-border trade in wild products. Additionally, 'Safety in the Game Meat Chain' strongly emphasises educating consumers about the risks associated with and safe handling of game meat to bolster consumer confidence in game meat products.