Frequent consumption of game, especially birds, can be harmful to your health because the pellets in the meat are too small to be noticed, reports New Scientist.
Debbie Pain’s team at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge bought wild birds in supermarkets from hunters and butchers all over the UK.
After X-rays were taken (even very small pieces of lead can be seen clearly), the birds were boiled in wine, cider or a liquid with a neutral pH. Only after cooking were the grit grains that could be found by the eye were removed.
Subsequently, the boned meat was ground and analyzed. It turned out that three portions of wild birds – woodcock for example – a week are enough for a 70-kilogram person to exceed the level of lead considered safe. In the case of a pheasant or partridges, 10 portions can be harmful, while a mallard duck can be eaten up to 24 to 30 times a week. (PAP)