USSA Denounces Minnesota Hysteria Over Lead in Venison

"State Overreacting to Test Results"
Dec. 10, 2008

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) denounces a recent decision by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to expand X-ray testing to all venison donated to food shelters through the state’s Harvested Venison Donation Program.

Expanding the x-ray requirement will increase program costs by thirty cents a pound and might lead to the program’s elimination. The program currently donates between 20,000 and 25,000 pounds of meat to food pantries.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s decision came after state studies indicated that 5.3 percent of venison that had been sampled and used in the program contained lead.

Besides helping the needy, the Harvested Venison Donation Program encouraged hunters to help control deer numbers.
“Hunters have been feeding their families with deer taken by lead bullets since firea rms were invented,” said Rick Story, senior vice president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “People have simply not contracted lead poisoning from wild game.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) undercut the hysteria surrounding the issue of lead in venison, issuing a report about neighboring North Dakota hunters that consumed significant quantities of game taken with lead ammunition. It showed that none of the 700 individuals tested had levels that concern the health agency. While appropriate processing of meat was suggested by the North Dakota Department of Health in response to the report, it failed to suggest food pantries stop accepting venison.
“Knee jerk reactions make poor public policy. The USSA hopes that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will reassess their decision as quickly as possible,” Story said.

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