Long-term monitoring shows 7% of Minnesota venison laced with toxic lead

Minnesotans may have consumed a half-million pounds of lead-tainted meat over 10 years.

Mar 09, 20210

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This X-ray image shows more than 450 lead bullet fragments that were spread through the neck of a mule deer after it was shot with a lead rifle bullet. Just a few of these fragments contain enough lead to sicken or kill a bald eagle or to contaminate venison consumed by people. (Photo courtesy U.S. National Park Service)

DULUTH -- Ten years of monitoring donated venison in Minnesota have found that more than 7% of deer meat contains toxic lead fragments from bullets.

The monitoring is conducted each year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which X-rays all of the venison donated by hunters to all Minnesota food shelves.

Over the past 10 years, 94,782 pounds of venison have been donated by hunters to help feed the hungry. But of that, 6,735 pounds, 7.1%, had to be thrown out because it was contaminated with lead.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/northland-outdoors/6916763-Long-term-monitoring-shows-7-of-Minnesota-venison-laced-with-toxic-lead