DEER LIVER CONSUMPTION ADVISORY

The Connecticut Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Environmental Protection advise sportsmen to limit their consumption of deer liver. Analysis of livers collected from 49 hunter-killed deer in 1991 indicated that some samples had unacceptably high levels of cadmium, a toxic metal. Sportsmen should note this advisory is only for liver and not for deer meat. Because kidneys also concentrate cadmium, it is recommended that this organ not be consumed.

For those who wish to continue to consume liver from deer despite this warning, the following recommendations are made:

1. Eat the liver of younger deer.

2. Reduce the number of meals of deer liver to no more than a few per year.

High levels of cadmium in deer livers are not unusual in the northeastern U.S., and with this advisory Connecticut joins several other states in this region that have issued similar warnings. For further information about cadmium toxicity call DPH at (860)509-7742.

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a...epNav_GID=1633