Consumer Perceptions and Sustainability Challenges in Game Meat Production and Marketing: A Comparative Study of Slovakia and the Czech Republic

Globally, game meat production is increasing. Yet, in many countries, game meat supply chains are not formally regulated and traceability issues have also been raised. As a consequence, there is an increased risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Thus, there is a growing call for a greater role of law and policy (environmental justice) in game animal and game meat products to secure animal and human health. Zambia is one of the countries where game meat production is increasing and legally traded. There is a paucity of information on Zambian laws, regulations, and policies governing the game meat trade. To understand this phenomenon in light of environmental justice concerns, we conducted a case study analyzing the Zambian regulatory framework and policies related to the game meat supply chain. The study included a review of Zambian laws and policies that address the game meat chain, focused on game meat zoonosis risks, and interviews with stakeholders in the game meat supply chain. This was followed by a zoonoses vulnerability assessment of the chain prompted by the absence of specific game meat regulations. The policy analysis revealed a lack of specific regulations governing game meat safety, with limited control over game meat along the supply chain. Several gaps in the law and policy frameworks were identified. To enhance game meat safety and reduce zoonotic disease transmission along the game meat supply chain, the use of a zoonotic control framework is recommended. We conclude with a discussion of the international implications of this Zambian use case.

Game meat has always been a part of the human diet. It is rich in protein and low in fat, and its consumption is increasing across Europe. The main objective of this paper is to enhance knowledge and understanding of large game meat production and consumption in Serbia. This study uses the official data provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia to calculate average hunting ground size, game population density and harvest rate. Game meat production data were obtained from four large game meat processing facilities and used for calculation of game meat yield and consumption rate. Serbia has a relatively small number of hunters, yet hunting grounds are extensive, covering nearly 92.6% of the country’s territory. Among large game species, roe deer constitute the most abundant population in Serbia. This population is characterized by medium size and density, with a relatively low harvest rate compared to other European countries. Wild boars are the most frequently hunted large game species in Serbia. Although their population density is low, it varies significantly across different hunting grounds, and the harvest rate remains high. The red deer population is comparable in size to that of neighboring countries, but has low density and a low harvest rate primarily due to ongoing population increase programs. The fallow deer population is steadily declining. Consumption rate, as well as game meat production Serbia is lower than in most European countries. A Serbian resident consumes as little as 0.120 kg of large game meat annually, accounting for just 0.3% of total meat consumption. These data represent the first quantitative data on game meat consumption in Serbia. Our findings suggest that there is significant potential to promote large game meat and boost its consumption in Serbia, especially considering the lower price of game meat – such as wild boars compared to domestic pork, and venison compared to beef.

Wild boar meat and pork are commonly added to game products, either as forefront or background ingredients. Due to their lower cost and wider availability compared to deer species, there is a potential for producers to misrepresent the inclusion of these species in more expensive game products. Therefore, a novel, highly specific TaqMan qPCR method targeting a single-copy 127-bp region of the PLAG1 zinc finger gene was developed for quantifying these subspecies in processed foodstuff. The individual qPCR systems, adapted to different processing conditions (raw and thermally treated), were implemented using a matrix-adapted reference system. These systems were validated using laboratory-prepared wild boar-in-beef patties. The assay achieved satisfactory performance parameters for fraud detection, reaching a sensitivity of 0.1 ng of wild boar or pig DNA, and both detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ) at 0.1% for raw and 0.5% (w/w) for thermally processed samples, respectively. Subsequently, commercial game meat and pork products were analyzed to assess their compliance with labeling claims. The results revealed instances of undeclared species, likely intentional mislabeling, and cross-contamination. The developed method can serve as a valuable tool for ensuring label compliance, preventing food fraud, and upholding halal specifications in the game meat industry.

A consensus has emerged in the United Kingdom that a transition away from the use of lead ammunition for hunting game animals would be desirable to reduce harm that lead causes to wildlife and the market for healthy game meat products. Voluntary methods to achieve this transition are preferred by hunters' organisations and the UK Government, though statutory regulation is also being considered. Voluntary transition methods include provision of advice to hunters by their non‐governmental organisations and moves by the game meat trade to switch to supplying only wild‐shot game products from animals killed using non‐lead ammunition. In this paper, I address the effectiveness of the practical implementation of a widely promoted wild‐shot game meat product assurance scheme by asking commercial stockists of game meat listed on the scheme's website about the demand for lead‐free game, their current labelling of products and the usefulness of the scheme's register of lead‐free shoots in helping them to source game shot using non‐lead ammunition. Responses were received from 39 stockists. Few respondents considered that there is currently significant demand for lead‐free game meat products, though more than one‐third thought that future growth in demand was probable. Few respondents currently sell products labelled as lead‐free. Only one respondent had found the register of lead‐free shoots useful and several were unaware of its existence. Based on this evidence and a review of progress with other voluntary initiatives, I conclude that substantial improvements in their effectiveness are needed if the benefits of a transition are to be achieved without statutory regulation.

Consumer interest in game meat has increased in recent years, mainly due to the growing population of some wild species, the "natural sounding" aspect of game meat and its good nutritional value [...].

In Italy, traditionally, chamois, roe deer, red deer and wild boar meats are consumed, either fresh or in the form of local products such as ‘luganeghe’. The growing consumption of game meat and their products can be attributed not only to their unique organoleptic properties but also to a changed perception of the consumer. Related to the game animal’s feral life cycle and the consequent absence of drug treatment, game meat has important ethical and ecological value. Although game meat contributes only a small part to overall meat and food supply it can be considered as an alternative to farmed animals meat for reasons of animal welfare, sustainability and nutritional value. Indeed, game meat has low lipid content, high quality protein associated with the presence of essential amino acids, more polyunsaturated than saturated fatty acids and high contents of ω-3 fatty acids. Although the management of microbiological hazards resulting from the consumption of this meat has a great impact on health and economic activity, no risk assessment has been made especially for game meat, and there are no specific microbiological criteria stipulated in EU legislation. In this context, hunters and butchers have a key role ensuring the healthiness of the product, during all production stages, and thus in assuring the health of the consumer. As a part of a study funded by the Ministry of Health and involving a multidisciplinary group, the purpose of this study was to monitor the hygienic quality of typical game meat products of the Trentino region.

Game: Types and Composition

Overview of game meat utilisation challenges and opportunities: A European perspective

The consumption of game meat in Croatia is significantly lower than that of the domestic animals’ meat. The paper aims to determine the consumer's attitudes, preferences, and perceptions about the consumption of game meat in Croatia, based on a survey questionnaire. A total of 845 respondents from all over Croatia were surveyed, 715 of whom were hunters. Even though game meat is available to most respondents (67.92%) daily, most of them (40.47%) consume it only occasionally, and only a few of them consume it once a week (7.81%), with the meat products being predominant, most frequently the game meat salami (62.25%). Wild boar meat (33.42%), followed by the rabbit (19.93%), pheasant (16.47%), and roe deer meat (13.56%), is most frequently consumed, while other types of game meat are consumed by a total of less than 7% of respondents. The majority of respondents (78.82%) were aware of the nutritional value of the game meat, which is better than the domestic animals’ meat, and they harbored no fear of inadequate game meat health. Despite this, the offer on the market is relatively weak, although the price is acceptable. As many as 85.33% of respondents believe that the game meat has poor marketing and a weak representation in the media arena. Based on the aforementioned facts, we may conclude that it is necessary to strengthen the marketing activities, as well as the citizens’ awareness of the game meat’s nutritional, culinary, and health value, to increase the consumption of the game meat and provide for its better position on the market.

Main objectives of this study were to monitor dog bite occurrence in game meat and to evaluate the damage caused. For this purpose, a total of 526 animals were evaluated: 337 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 142 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 29 fallow deer (Dama dama), and 18 mouflon (Ovis musimon), in hunting zones located in the county Idanha-a-Nova (lat 39° 55’N: long 7° 14’W). A total of 100 (19.01%) of the analysed animals had suffered from dog bites. Of those, 64 were classified as level 1, 20 as level 2 (i.e. removal of affected tissues necessary) and 16 as level 3 (i.e. necessitating total rejection of the carcass). Apart from the animal welfare issue this study emphasises the hygienic, microbiological and economic relevance of this problem in the game meat production chain. The necessity of improving dog behaviour during drive hunting so as to avoid meat rejection, promote animal welfare and game meat hygiene and quality.

The amount of game meat produced in Sweden in 2010/2011 was estimated at 17,000 tons (carcass weight), all species included. Moose (Alces alces) meat represents 67% of the total volume. The turnover of game meat in the Swedish market in 2010/2011 was approximately 1,800 tons (1,300 tons of moose meat and 500 tons other game like wild boar, deer and roe deer) handled through game handling establishments (GHEs) and 1,900 tons imported game meat (mainly deer and wild boar). It is obvious that a significant amount of the game meat produced in Sweden (about 15,000 tons) will never reach the market. Only the hunters, their families and friends will have access to these volumes. Game meat is a product that meets most of the criteria demanded by today’s discerning meat consumer; it has low fat content, favourable fat composition (high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA), and a good content of key minerals, trace elements and vitamins. Finally, it is produced based on grazing natural pasture in a free-range system. Lead (Pb) contamination of moose meat by rifle bullets has recently been described in Norwegian and Swedish studies. Further research is carried out around types of ammunition used and improved carcass handling and boning procedures to minimise the problems. A large variation in the hygienic quality (from very good to poor) of game meat has been reported from Central European countries. The opinions among Swedish hunting organisations, local hunting teams, individual hunters and representatives from GHEs support the Central European conclusions. There is a similar large variation in the hygienic quality of Swedish moose meat and further efforts in education along the whole chain of handling moose and other game meat would contribute to a more constant and improved overall game meat quality in Sweden.

The hygiene practices of three systems of game meat production in South Africa in terms of animal class and health compliance

Game meat products are particularly prone to be adulterated by replacing game meat with cheaper meat species. Recently, we have presented a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the identification and quantification of roe deer in food. Quantification of the roe deer content in % (w/w) was achieved relatively by subjecting the DNA isolates to a reference real-time PCR assay in addition to the real-time PCR assay for roe deer. Aiming at harmonizing analytical methods for food authentication across EU Member States, the real-time PCR assay for roe deer has been tested in an interlaboratory ring trial including 14 laboratories from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Participating laboratories obtained aliquots of DNA isolates from a meat mixture containing 24.8% (w/w) roe deer in pork, roe deer meat, and 12 meat samples whose roe deer content was not disclosed. Performance characteristics included amplification efficiency, level of detection (LOD95%), repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy of quantitative results. With a relative reproducibility standard deviation ranging from 13.35 to 25.08% (after outlier removal) and recoveries ranging from 84.4 to 114.3%, the real-time PCR assay was found to be applicable for the detection and quantification of roe deer in raw meat samples to detect food adulteration.

Duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous determination of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and deer (sum of fallow deer, red deer and sika deer) content in game meat products

PCR identification of meats from chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra), pyrenean ibex ( Capra pyrenaica), and mouflon ( Ovis ammon) targeting specific sequences from the mitochondrial D-loop region