Bacteria alarm: Every third game meat sample in MV is dangerously contaminated!

Bacteria alarm: Every third game meat sample in MV is dangerously contaminated!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a current germ warning is causing serious concerns among game meat lovers. Tests by the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries (LALLF) in Rostock have shown that one in three of the 23 meat samples examined from free-roaming wild ruminants - including deer and deer - is contaminated with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). These germs can be harmful to people's health when eating raw meat Uckermark courier reported.

Overall, more than 50% of the samples showed defects, with increased bacterial counts of other bacteria, especially hygiene-relevant enterobacteria and pseudomonads, being found in 30% of the cases. For consumers, this means that game meat must be fully cooked before consumption to avoid health risks. It is also recommended to pay attention to high kitchen hygiene when cooking to prevent the transmission of bacteria.

The risks and challenges of wild meat

Game meat is often valued as a delicate specialty, but the current situation raises questions. Several thousand tons of game meat are sold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania every year, and the majority of it is roe deer, fallow deer, red deer and wild boar. In the 2023/24 hunting season, around 66,000 wild boar and 15,000 fallow deer were shot in the northeast. However, the question of the safety of consumption still arises, particularly due to the various health risks associated with wild meat.

A comprehensive investigation shows that wild animals are often carriers of Shiga/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC), even though they often do not show any noticeable symptoms themselves. This was also confirmed by a campaign in Austria in which 57 samples of raw sausages containing game meat were examined. One of these samples was found to be harmful to health. The AGES highlights that faecal germs are a common cause of contamination, often due to hygienic deficiencies during evisceration.

Environmental and health concerns

However, the concerns are not limited to microbial contamination. Studies show that wild boar meat can transmit zoonoses such as trichinosis and salmonella. In addition, the WHO has found that venison is often contaminated with lead above the recommended limit values. This poses significant health risks, especially for pregnant women and children, for whom the consumption of venison is completely discouraged. Loud Game with game The average lead level in small animals in Europe is around 14 times higher than the EU risk assessments.

The recommendations for consumption are clear: game meat should only be consumed up to three times a year, and the use of lead-free ammunition is strongly advised. Compliance with strict hygiene standards during hunting and processing is also crucial.

Given the many aspects that need to be taken into account when eating game meat, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what measures consumers and suppliers will take to ensure safety. In the future, greater attention should be paid to the implementation of hygiene standards and the use of non-toxic products.