- Chemicals in wild pig liver: the Office advises against consumption
Experts in Rhineland-Palatinate warn against consuming wild boar liver due to high levels of health-hazardous chemicals. The chemicals in question are PFAS, according to the State Institute of Health. The marketing and further processing of these livers is prohibited. Other regions in Germany may also be affected.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals widely present in the environment, drinking water, and food. They are also known as "forever chemicals." According to the European Environment Agency, most of the relatively few well-studied PFAS are classified as medium to highly toxic, especially for child development.
The State Institute of Health tested 30 liver samples and 30 other meat samples from wild boars killed in Rhineland-Palatinate. All liver samples exceeded the EU-wide limit for PFAS. However, the meat samples were deemed safe regarding PFAS, with values well below the limit.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment states that consuming even one portion of wild boar liver per year significantly contributes to intake of PFAS. For those who consume such a liver once a year, there is a "medium probability of health impairments." The Federal Institute bases its assessment on results from Schleswig-Holstein but assumes that the values are not a regional peculiarity and could be similar in the rest of Germany.
The widespread presence of PFAS in the environment, as highlighted by the European Environment Agency, poses concerns for various organisms and ecosystems. Contamination of the wild boar liver in Rhineland-Palatinate with high levels of PFAS has raised concerns about potential health risks, as regular consumption could lead to significant PFAS intake and a medium probability of health impairments.
