Focus on food safety: Researchers develop standardised testing procedure for hunting rifle bullets Results and experiences to be presented at the "Wild Game - Researched" symposium
What it's about:
For many years, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) has been researching the food safety of game meat, investigating possible health risks posed by microbial contaminations or environmental contaminants in game meat. From 2019 onwards, the focus of the research has been the development of a standardised testing procedure for hunting rifle bullets. The aim is to ensure that hunting bullets kill game in a manner consistent with animal welfare while minimising the entry of metallic fragments into the game meat. The project, which was carried out in collaboration with an international panel of scientific experts, has now been completed, and the method has been tested for practical suitability in a round robin test. "The new, standardised test procedure makes the examination of rifle bullets comparable and reproducible," says BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment President Professor Andreas Hensel. "Ultimately, this helps to minimise health risks from the entry of metallic fragments and maximise the food safety of game meat."
The findings from the project and the results of the round robin test form the thematic focus of the symposium "Wild Game – Researched!". The symposium will take place on 4 and 5 February 2026 at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment site in Marienfelde.
Hunters are traditionally among the high consumers of game meat. They are therefore a particular focus when it comes to possible health risks associated with the consumption of game meat. However, they are also food producers, as they process and market the game they hunt. As such, they are also responsible for ensuring the safety of game as food. On the first day of the symposium, the focus will initially be on the past: the speakers will review how the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has contributed to the food safety in game meat over the past 15 years.
In this context, there has been much discussion about metallic fragments entering animals from non-lead and lead hunting ammunition, respectively. The level of entry should be kept as low as possible to minimise the health risk posed by the substances introduced. At the same time, the kinetic energy of the bullet must remain sufficiently high to ensure that the game can be killed in accordance with animal welfare standards. In extensive ballistic tests, international scientists have investigated how to test bullets in a standardised manner with regard to these objectives. They examined, for example, the suitability of soap and gelatine as ballistic test simulants.
At the symposium, researchers from the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and five external participants in the round robin test, such as the German Experimental and Test Institute for Hunting and Sporting Firearms (“Deutsche Versuchs- und Prüf-Anstalt für Jagd- und Sportwaffen e.V.”, DEVA) and the University of the German Federal Armed Forces (Universität der Bundeswehr), will present the results of the round robin test and their experiences.
On the second day of the event, BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Vice-President Dr. Tewes Tralau will look into the future: in his closing remarks, he will outline the expected developments and challenges in the coming years.
Interested journalists are cordially invited to attend.
Information about the event:
Symposium "Wild Game – Researched!"
4 February, 1 p.m. to 5 February, approx. 1 p.m.
Location: Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin Marienfelde, Building 3, Lecture Hall
Further information on food safety of game
Press Release: Meat of wild game animals should become safer
External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/press-release/meat-of-wild-game-animals-should-become-safer/
Research project “Safety in the Game Meat Chain”
External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/project/safety-in-the-game-meat-chain/
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). It protects people's health preventively in the fields of public health and veterinary public health. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides advice to the Federal Government as well as the Federal States (‘Laender’) on questions related to food, feed, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its own research on topics closely related to its assessment tasks.