Consumption of deer has been on the rise in the U.S. among health conscious consumers seeking a red meat alternative to beef or pork that is lower in fat, cholesterol and calories. Native Americans are thought to have consumed deer as a central part of a traditional subsistence diet for centuries. While healthier than other red meat, wild populations of deer in Colorado and Wyoming have an estimated prevalence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of 2.5 percent. CWD belongs to a class of diseases in animals and humans known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These fatal diseases are characterized by a long incubation period, followed by rapid neurological deterioration. To reduce the likelihood of human exposure to foodborne TSEs, FDA has banned the practice of ruminant-to-ruminant feeding of protein in the U.S. While no TSE’s in humans have been connected with CWD in deer, there are many unknowns. A number of risk management policies have been enacted to limit foodborne exposure to CWD. Both South Dakota and Wyoming test each animal for CWD before the meat enters the food supply. Wyoming also includes a long quarantine period before testing. A quantitative exposure assessment of Native Americans to CWD depends on the strength of current food surveys. Presented is a discussion of the applicability of current CFSII data to quantify dietary risks to Native Americans in light of other quantitative dietary studies and exposure assessments.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Explain the methodological limitations of current consumption analysis data (CFSII and NHANES) to assess food safety risks for Native Americans 2. Describe the epidemologic link between variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and the consumption of meat contaminated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) 3. Explain the health risk of TSE exposure to Native Americans on a traditional diet of venison in parts of the United States 4. Evaluate various state and national risk management policies developed to protect the public from foodborne exposure to TSEs and limitations of these policies for indigenous groups
Keywords: Emerging Diseases, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: USDA CFSII data
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.