Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination ControlChemicalPhysical

Certain Raw Pet Foods Put UK Dogs at Risk of Lead Exposure Due to Ammunition Residues

dogs in front of raw pet food in bowl

Credit: Real Natures Food via Unsplash

May 5, 2023

A recent study out of the UK has revealed that raw dog food containing pheasant meat may pose a health risk to pets due to the presence of high lead concentrations caused by ammunition used to hunt game. With the popularity of raw pet food in the UK on the rise, the numbers of pets at risk for lead exposure could be high.

Although most uses of lead have been phased-out or regulated in high-income countries, it remains in common use globally as the principal element in shotgun pellets and bullets (shot). While passing through the tissues of game animals, lead ammunition frequently leaves behind numerous embedded lead particles of varying size resulting in elevated lead concentrations in meat.

To mitigate the risks posed by lead ammunition, EU and UK authorities are considering banning lead-based ammunition, and the present study was conducted in support of such efforts.

The study found dog food that includes wild-shot pheasant meat to be widely available in the UK, with 77 percent of samples from three raw pheasant dog food products exceeding the EU maximum residue level (MRL) for lead in animal feed. Mean concentrations of lead in the pet food samples were approximately, 245, 135, and 49 times above the MRL. Concentrations exceeding the EU MRL for lead were also found in a dried food containing pheasant, but not in a processed food, nor in chicken-based products. Lead concentrations in raw pheasant dog food considerably exceeded those in pheasant meat sold for human consumption, possibly because the dog food mincing process further fragmented lead particles from shot.

Samples were identified using Google to find UK online suppliers of raw pet food products. For the first 50 suppliers found using the terms “Raw,” “pet,” “dog,” “cat,” “food,” and “UK,” the researchers identified which products included meat from pheasants and other game animals, whether such animals appeared to be farmed or hunted from the wild, and whether they were listed as “potentially containing shot.” Consequently, the researchers collected and tested samples four raw pet food products, two air-dried products, and two processed wet food products.

To assess the levels of lead and the presence of shot in the products, the researchers conducted X-ray and chemical analyses.

Of 50 online suppliers surveyed, 8 percent sold only cat food, while the remainder sold dogfood or both. Wild game was sold by 46 percent of suppliers, and potentially wild game (origin unspecified) by another 22 percent. Raw minced pheasant (assumed to be wild-shot) was sold by 34 percent of suppliers, 71 percent of which stated that the meat might contain shot, although the shot type (lead or other) was seldom specified.

Pet food may be listed as “complete,” meaning that it is sufficient for a daily ration, or classified as animal feed or “complementary” feed, which are assumed sufficient for a daily ration only if used in combination with other feed. Complete feed has an MRL for lead of 5 parts per million of wet weight (ppm w.w.) assuming a moisture content of 12 percent, compared with 10 ppm w.w. for general animal feed or complementary feed.

MRLs were exceeded in more than 60 percent of the samples of two raw pheasant animal feed products, as well as in all samples of the raw pheasant complete feed product and 60 percent of samples of dried pheasant sticks. When excluding samples containing whole shot, 74 percent of raw minced pheasant product samples combined exceeded MRLs. No samples from other products analyzed exceeded the MRL.

To mitigate the risk of pet exposure to lead in food, the researchers suggest that pet food suppliers source wild game killed with non-lead ammunition, and that authorities apply enhanced monitoring and enforcement of existing regulations on undesirable substances in animal feed. An overarching One Health approach of replacing lead with nontoxic ammunition, as is currently being considered under UK and EU regulatory processes, would remove risks while also benefitting humans, wildlife, and the environment.

KEYWORDS: lead pet food raw pet food study UK

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Meat/Poultry
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Food Prep/Handling
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Management
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

Image of produce being washed on a conveyor belt in a facility

Science in Action: How Nanobubbles Are Advancing Food Safety Standards

FoodSafetyMattersFinal-900x550-(002).jpg

Ep. 195. Dr. Christopher Daubert: The Value of a Food Science Education

Students returning their lunch trays in a cafeteria

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • side profile of cat eating from bowl on floor

    UK FSA Testing of Raw Pet Food Shows Dogs, Cats at Medium Risk of Salmonella Infection

    See More
  • baby bottle

    Infants Given Formula Most at Risk of Exposure to Petroleum-Derived MOH Chemicals, EFSA Concludes

    See More
  • small empty glass beakers

    USDA-FSIS to Update Laboratory Analysis Methods for Certain Chemical Residues in Foods

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Food-Forensics-3D.jpg

    Food Forensics Handbook Practice, Instrumentation, Case Studies

See More Products
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing