News

Today the Agency is publishing the results of its expert appraisal on the health risks associated with the consumption of wild game and the environmental chemical contaminants (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs, cadmium and lead) found in both wild and farmed game. While game can be contaminated by numerous chemicals present in its living environment or via ammunition, the available data only give a partial picture of wild game contamination in France. The Agency therefore recommends documenting the contamination levels of small and large wild game more fully, as well as the dietary exposure of game consumers. Because the expert appraisal highlighted a health concern related to lead, the Agency is proposing various levers for action to reduce consumer exposure (substitution of lead ammunition, trimming of meat, frequency of consumption). Pending additional data and given the level of lead contamination in large wild game (deer and wild boar), the Agency recommends that women of childbearing age and children avoid all consumption of large wild game, while other consumers should limit themselves to occasional consumption, around three times a year.