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Is Game meat (venison, pheasant, grouse) safe in pregnancy?
Best avoided
Avoid unless you can confirm it is lead-shot-free.
What the evidence says
Game meat shot with lead ammunition should be avoided in pregnancy because of potential lead contamination. If you are confident the game was shot with lead-free ammunition or wild-caught without shot (netted/trapped), thoroughly cooked game is otherwise safe. In practice, this is hard to verify, so most guidance suggests avoiding game in pregnancy.
Why this matters
Lead from shot can embed in the meat and transfer to the baby. Lead is neurotoxic during fetal development.
Source:Food Standards Agency guidance on game
Last reviewed:April 2026
Please note — This is general guidance based on NHS advice as of April 2026. It is not medical advice. For advice on your specific pregnancy, please speak to your midwife or GP.
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