Safety of hunted deer meat: potential risks (scientific review)

Ya. M. Rebezov¹ , M. B. Rebezov^{2, 3}

¹ Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Veliky Novgorod, Russia

² Gorbatov Federal Research Center for Food Systems, Moscow, Russia

³ Ural State Agrarian University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volume 26 No. 7

Date of paper submission: 13.03.2026, date of review: 22.04.2026, date of acceptance: 05.05.2026. 

Published: 07/31/2026

Abstract. Meat from wild cervids has high nutritional value and is experiencing growing consumer demand. However, the specific nature of hunting introduces additional health risks that require comprehensive assessment. Scientific novelty. A comprehensive comparative analysis of data on biological, parasitic, chemical, and radiological contamination of wild deer meat across Eurasia was conducted, with an emphasis on the specifics of hunting practices and primary processing. The purpose is to summarize and systematize scientific data on potential safety threats associated with hunted deer meat. Methods. A literature search was performed in the Scopus, eLibrary, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. Original research articles, reviews, and meta-analyses containing data on the quality and safety of wild cervid meat were selected. Results. The main risks identified are associated with the use of lead ammunition, high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, the presence of hepatitis E virus, and the accumulation of cadmium and strontium in the organs of animals from industrial zones and regions with anthropogenic impact. Levels of persistent organic pollutants in muscle tissue generally do not exceed safe thresholds. The necessity of sufficient heat treatment and regional monitoring is substantiated.

Keywords: game meat, venison, food safety, zoonotic infections, Toxoplasma gondii, hepatitis E virus, lead, cadmium, radionuclides, strontium-90, caesium-137, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), hunting, veterinary sanitary inspection

For citation: Rebezov Yа. M., Rebezov M. B. Safety of hunted deer meat: potential risks (scientific review). Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (07): 1284‒1303. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-07-1284-1303. 

  

Download the full text of the article