Children under six years of age, pregnant women or those planning to stay in state should not consume meat from lead hunted animals, because this metal affects the developing central nervous system.
This follows from a report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), under the Ministry of Health, on the risk associated with the presence of lead in wild game meat in Spain.
Although we do not have hunters at home, we must not forget other sources of possible lead contamination in this type of meat. The consumption of wild game meat is more frequent in hunters and their families, but the general population is exposed to consumption in restaurants, as well as products derived from such meat (sausage, pate ...) that are sold in any supermarket.
In the report, AESAN highlights that the wild and small game of wild game analyzed in Spain show a average lead content exceeding maximum limits established in the EU for meat and offal in general, similar to that found in other countries and in the whole of Europe.
Recommendations to protect the health of wild game meat consumers
The health recommendation for adults is to limit the consumption of these products to a maximum of one serving (approximately 150 grams) per week, a population group in which the kidneys are the most sensitive organs to lead exposure, which also reduces ability to form new blood cells. Lead-associated neurotoxicity in adults affects the processing of information.
In the case of children, numerous evidences have shown that the toxicity of this material affects to a greater extent the developing brains against the mature ones. Blood lead concentrations are associated with a reduction in the IQ and cognitive functions in children under seven years and similar conclusions are applicable to the case of fetuses. We have already seen in the blog how blood lead affects childhood development, even at low levels.
Aesan notes in its recommendations regarding children and pregnant women the following:
Children under six years of age, pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant should not consume meat from animals hunted with lead ammunition, as lead fragments cannot be safely removed and these population groups are more sensitive to The effects of lead on health and even the intake of small amounts can be harmful. Lead can mainly affect the developing CNS in young children when it is present in concentrations lower than those that can cause some adverse effect.
The Agency considers that it is necessary to promote information campaigns aimed at consumers, on the precautions to be taken into account in the preparation and cooking of these meats in order to minimize exposure to lead. It is that, when preparing this type of meat, the one that is damaged by the ammunition is cut and removed, as well as the area around the visible wound.
In the case of minced meat, it indicates that the mincer should be cleaned frequently, preferably before use with each animal, since lead, being a soft metal, can be crushed by spreading contamination to the entire batch.
The report also proposes the limitation of the use of this type of ammunition in favor of other bullets that can be made of steel or tungsten.
All this information is found in the latest issue of the Journal of the Scientific Committee of the AESAN, in a text signed by about twenty scientists. Its title is "Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the risk associated with the presence of lead in wild game meat in Spain".
Remember that a few months ago the AESAN recommended pregnant women and children not to eat bluefin tuna or emperor, in this case because of the high mercury content, and now we add this new restriction: Health advises children and pregnant women not to eat meat hunted with lead. What will be the next food banned for health risks?
