Information about Lead in Venison for Hunters and Meat Processors
Recent research indicates that small lead fragments are often present in hunter-harvested venison, particularly ground venison. Nationally, several federal and state health, wildlife and food safety agencies are now beginning to investigate the potential impacts of ingesting lead fragments while eating hunter-harvested venison.
Lead poisoning is extremely serious, and it is completely preventable. General information about lead exposure and health effects can be found at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) at their website in the right column.
Radiograph of the chest of a deer-sized animal illustrating lead fragmentation of a ballistic tip rifle bullet.
(Image courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
A study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources demonstrated that the type of ammunition used to harvest game is a key factor to the degree of bullet fragmentation and the amount of lead fragments found in meat. To read their research findings or see a video presentation on their study, see Minnesota DNR website on lead.
Tips For Hunters
The following suggestions can eliminate or reduce the potential risk of consuming lead fragments. Following these suggestions is important because lead particles in venison will likely be too small to detect by sight, feel, or when chewing the meat.
- Consider alternatives to ammunition that is prone to fragment - these alternatives could include non-lead (copper) or other high-weight retention ammunition (controlled expansion bullets)
- Consider selecting heavier bullet weights for a given caliber. Avoid lightly constructed bullets.
- Shotgun slugs and muzzleloader bullets leave less lead in big game than commonly used high-powered soft-point or rapid expanding rifle bullets.
- Practice marksmanship and outdoors skills to get cleaner, closer shots, and better shots. Shots into the hind-quarters, where heavy bones are located, will result in high and widespread fragmentation in the meatiest part of the animal.
- Avoid shots at running deer as this decreases your accuracy.
- If you take your deer to a commercial processor, ask that they process your deer individually and trim generously around the wound channel.
- If you process your own meat, discard meat with excessive shot damage. Trim a generous distance away from the wound channel and discard any meat that is bruised, discolored or contains hair, dirt, bone fragments or grass.
- Ground venison tends to contain more lead fragments than whole muscle cuts. Regularly check and clean your meat grinder.
- Don't consume internal organs as these may also contain lead fragments.
For good sanitary practices when butchering, storing and preparing venison, and advice on potential diseases or toxins in game, go to the NYSDOH website Advice on Contaminants in Game (link in the right column.)
Tips For Meat Processors
There is a high likelihood that any deer shot with a firearm using lead ammunition will contain lead particles, and lead particles in venison are likely to be too small to detect by sight, feel, or when chewing the meat. Therefore, it is important to:
- Discard meat with excessive shot damage. Do not use deer meat with excessive shot damage. Trim a generous distance away from the bullet wound channel and discard any meat that is bruised, discolored or contains hair, dirt, bone fragments or grass. This is particularly important before selecting meat for grinding.
- To avoid cross-contamination, grind meat from each deer individually, check grinders for lead fragments and clean grinders between grinding meat from each individual deer.
If you have any questions regarding how to reduce the amount of lead in venison, please contact your Regional Wildlife Office. For questions about potential health effects from lead, call NYSDOH at 1-800-458-1158, extension 27820.
