7:40 AM

Meeting on lead in venison includes Iowa, South Dakota

Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2008 12:00 am

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will host a five-state meeting next week to discuss the discovery of lead fragments in venison.

Wildlife, public health and food safety experts are set to attend Wednesday's meeting in Bloomington.

The Minnesota DNR says the meeting is aimed at helping regulators, hunters and processors understand the implications of lead in venison. Representatives from hunting organizations also have been invited.

Some venison donated by hunters last fall had to be recalled from food shelves in Minnesota and North Dakota after lead fragments were found in the meat. No illnesses have been linked to eating fragments of lead ammunition.

Representatives from agencies in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin have been invited to the meeting.