November 25, 2008

LANSING - With the 2008 hunting season now underway, the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds hunters and retail food establishments to follow food safety guidelines when processing wild deer and swine.

“Michigan’s retail processors must follow safe handling and processing protocols for domestic meats as well as wild game,” said Katherine Fedder, MDA Food and Dairy Division director. “Following basic food safety principles minimizes the risk of food contamination, of contracting an animal disease, or lead poisoning.”

A new brochure is available for retail processors with general storage and processing guidelines, which also addresses processing recommendations regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and lead contamination from shot. There are specific CWD precautions such as to minimize handling and cutting of deer brain, spinal tissues, and lymph nodes.

“Processors need to take extra care when selecting meat for grinding because of lead contamination concerns and to not include meat with excessive shot damage,” said Fedder. “Generously remove meat from the bullet path, beyond what has been common practice in the past and discard any meat that is bruised, discolored, or contains hair, dirt, bone fragments or grass.”

The Processing Guide and Sanitation Requirements for Retail Food Establishments is available at www.michigan.gov/mda. Information on deer handling or field dressing is available from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by calling 517-373-9358 or visiting www.michigan.gov/dnr.