Risk assessment of lead exposure from cervid meat in Norwegian consumers and in hunting dogs

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) has requested the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) to assess the significance of lead exposure to the Norwegian population by consumption of game meat including meat from farmed deer, when the animals are shot with lead-based ammunition. Further, VKM was asked to describe the distribution of lead from ammunition in the carcass and to estimate the tissue area associated with the wound channel that has to be removed in order to reduce the risk. VKM was also asked to present, if any, other appropriate measures in addition to removing tissue in order to limit the content of lead residues from ammunition in cervid meat. Finally, VKM was asked to assess the significance of lead exposure to the health of dogs if they were fed with trimmings from the wound channel.NO; en; vkm@vkm.n