Assessment of Biological and Chemical Risks to the Safety of Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Meat: A Scientific Review

Relevance. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is one of the most important game species in Russia, representing a valuable trophy and a source of high-quality meat. Bear meat is traditionally considered an environmentally friendly product, free of hormones and antibiotics. However, its harvesting and consumption are associated with a number of veterinary and sanitary requirements and potential risks, necessitating a comprehensive safety study.

Methods. A keyword search for potentially relevant articles was conducted in electronic databases and open-access internet searches.

Results. As an omnivorous predator and a natural reservoir of parasitic infestations, the bear may pose a risk as a source of pathogens, primarily trichinosis. The quality and safety of bear meat have been shown to vary depending on the region of harvest, season, and the animal’s food supply, and are also influenced by anthropogenic factors, including environmental pollution with heavy metals and radionuclides. The data obtained substantiate the need to improve veterinary inspection methods for hunting products to minimize consumer health risks. Further research is needed on a number of safety factors.

1. Dusayev N.S., Grishin A.S. Dangerous but tasty brown bear. Meat Technology. 2010; (1): 46–47 (in Russian). EDN WJZTZJ

2. Tsaregorodtseva E.V., Kabanova T.V. Examination of meat of domestic and wild animals. Vestnik of the Mari State University. Chapter “Agriculture. Economics”. 2018; 4(3): 77–84 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.30914/2411-9687-2018-4-3-77-84

3. Skobrák E.B., Bodnár K., Jónás E.M., Gundel J., Jávor A. The Comparison Analysis of the Main Chemical Composition Parameters of Wild Boar Meat and Pork. Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies. 2011; 44(1): 105–112.

4. Kelava Ugarković N., Konjačić M., Malnar J., Tomljanović K., Šprem N., Ugarković D. Proximate Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, and Lipid Qualitative Indices of Brown Bear Meat. Foods. 2021; 10(1): 36. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10010036

5. Tomasevic I. et al. Consumers’ perceptions, attitudes and perceived quality of game meat in ten European countries. Meat Science. 2018; 142: 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.03.016

6. Kalinina S.N., Ilyukha V.A., Panchenko D.V., Zaitseva I.A. Estimating wild game consumption within the study of hunting in the Republic of Karelia. Transactions of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2024; (7): 139–145 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.17076/eb1967

7. McLellan B.N., Proctor M.F., Huber D., Michel S. Ursus arctos (amended version of 2017 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017; e.T41688A121229971. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41688A121229971.en

8. Nikolaenok V.T., Danil’chenko S.I. Brown bear as an object for hunting, methods of its counting and harvesting. Recent problems of nature use, game biology and fur farming. Proceedings of International Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming. Kirov. 2012; 563–564 (in Russian). EDN ACZRTJ

9. Seryodkin I.V. Trichinosis of brown bear and Asiatic black bear in the Russian Far East. Bulletin of KSAU. 2015; (12): 167–173 (in Russian). EDN VCGVPT

10. Robbins C.T., Schwartz C.C., Felicetti L.A. Nutritional ecology of ursids: a review of newer methods and management implications. Ursus. 2004; 15(2): 161– 171. https://doi.org/10.2192/1537-6176(2004)015<0161:NEOUAR>2.0.CO;2

11. López-Alfaro C., Coogan S.C.P., Robbins C.T., Fortin J.K., Nielsen S.E. Assessing Nutritional Parameters of Brown Bear Diets among Ecosystems Gives Insight into Differences among Populations. PLOS One. 2015; 10(6): e0128088. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128088

12. Bojarska K., Selva N. Spatial patterns in brown bear Ursus arctos diet: the role of geographical and environmental factors. Mammal Review. 2012; 42(2): 120–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00192.x

13. Efford M.G., Borchers D.L., Mowat G. Varying effort in capture–recapture studies. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2013; 4(7): 629–636. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12049

14. Khimilonov O.K., Kolina Yu.A. Brown bear meat safety assessment criteria in Primorsky Krai. Biological and veterinary aspects in the conservation and treatment of wild animals. Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference. Ussuriysk. 2025; 180–182 (in Russian). EDN YLLNFM

15. Trukhina T.I., Samsonenko I.A. Spread of trichinellosis in the Far East. Problems of veterinary medicine and zooecology of the Russian and AsianPacific regions. Proceedings of the First International scientific and practical conference. Blagoveshchensk: Far State Agrarian University. 2012; 135–138 (in Russian).

16. Solovieva I.A., Bondarenko G.A., Trukhina T.I., Ivanov D.A. Features of the formation of natural foci of trichinosis in the Far East. Far Eastern Agrarian Bulletin. 2016; 4(40): 126–130. (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.24411/1999-6837-2016-00083

17. Hedman H.D., Varga C., Duquette J., Novakofski J., Mateus-Pinilla N.E. Food Safety Considerations Related to the Consumption and Handling of Game Meat in North America. Veterinary Sciences. 2020; 7(4): 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7040188

18. Kaizer A.A., Begletsov O.A. Morphochemical parameters and nutritional value meat brown bear (Ursus arctos) Taimyr. Biological resources of the Far North: current status and rational use. Collection of scientific papers. St. Petersburg: State University of Aerospace Instrumentation. 2014; 142–146 (in Russian). EDN UWQPQP

19. Busygina A.A., Zhenikhova N.I. Composition, nutritional value and comparative veterinary and sanitary examination of bear and beaver meat. Youth and science. 2021; (2): 7 (in Russian). EDN SYRIJJ

20. Swenson J.E., Adamič M., Huber D., Stokke S. Brown bear body mass and growth in northern and southern Europe. Oecologia. 2007; 153(1): 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-007-0715-1

21. Bachinskaya V.M., Borovkov M.F., Dobrolyubova Yu.V. Determination of the quality and safety of bear meat. Young scientist. 2021; (5): 105–109 (in Russian). EDN VHLLDR

22. Kulach P.V., Nityaga I.M., Zhdanova E.A. Veterinary and sanitary assessment of bear meat from the Tver region. Discovery Science Research. Collected papers of the VI International scientific and practical conference. Petrozavodsk: Novaya nauka. 2020; 36–45 (in Russian). EDN NUZKFY

23. Sivkova T.N. Veterinary and sanitary expertize of brown bear meat infected with Dirofilaria ursi. Perm agrarian journal. 2020; (4): 103–109 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.47737/2307-2873_2020_32_103

24. Kelava Ugarković N., Prpić Z., Konjačić M. Physical quality parameters of brown bear (Ursus arctos) meat. 60th Croatian and 20th International Symposium on Agriculture, Book of Abstracts. Bol, Croatia; 2025: 209–214.

25. Malofeeva N.A., Davydova O.E., Savina I.P. Biosafety and quality indicators of bear meat harvested in the Central Federal District. Legal regulation in veterinary medicine. 2022; (4): 122–126 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.52419/issn2782-6252.2022.4.122

26. Kokolova L.M. Trichinosis of animals of Yakutia. Science and education: modern trends. Cheboksary: Interaktiv plyus. 2014; (6): 14–33 (in Russian). EDN TKQDWJ

27. Bondarenko G.A., Solovyeva I.A., Ostyakova M.E., Trukhina T.I. Invasion of brown bear (Ursus arctos) trichinosis in the Amur region and morphological parameters of capsules of Trichinella larvae. International Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 2025; (1): 114–120 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.52419/issn2072-2419.2025.1.114

28. Gowler C.D. et al. Notes from the Field: Suspected Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Undercooked Bear Meat — North Carolina, November 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2024; 73(40): 906–907. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7340a4

29. Dalcin D. et al. Trichinella Nativa Outbreak With Rare Thrombotic Complications Associated With Meat From a Black Bear Hunted in Northern Ontario. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2017; 64(10): 1367–1373. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix165

30. Larter N.C., Forbes L.B., Elkin B.T., Allaire D.G. Prevalence of Trichinella spp. in Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, and Wolves in the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories, Canada, Including the First Report of T. nativa in a Grizzly Bear from Canada. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 2011; 47(3): 745–749. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-47.3.745

31. Butler C.E., Khan R.A. Prevalence of Trichinella spiralis in Black Bears (Ursus americanus) from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 1992; 28(3): 474–475. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-28.3.474

32. Cash-Goldwasser S. et al. Outbreak of Human Trichinellosis — Arizona, Minnesota, and South Dakota, 2022. Canada Communicable Disease Report. 2024; 50(5): 153–157. https://doi.org/10.14745/ccdr.v50i05a05

33. Andreyeva M.V., Tatarinova Z.G. Spread of trichinellosis and veterinarysanitary examination of brown bear meat in Yakutia. Sbornik nauchnykh trudov SWorld. 2014; (4-32): 57–61 (in Russian). EDN TFBAYZ

34. Bukina L.A., Igitova D.M. Polihostality as the main index of environmental valence of Trichina on the territory of Chukotka. International Research Journal. 2017; (6-2): 36–38 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2017.60.084

35. Samsonenko I.A., Trukhina T.I. Monitoring trichinellosis in Khabarovsk Krai. Problems of veterinary medicine and zooecology of the Russian and AsianPacific regions. Proceedings of the First International scientific and practical conference. Blagoveshchensk: Far State Agrarian University. 2012; 120–122 (in Russian).

36. Trukhina T.I., Bondarenko G.A., Solovyova I.A. Infection with trichinosis among wild and domestic animals in the Amur region. Actual questions of veterinary biology. 2023; (3): 52–59 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.24412/2074-5036-2023-3-52-59

37. Kiriltsov E.V. Population studies of the main parasitic systems of wild animals in the south of the Transbaikal region. Perm agrarian journal. 2024; (2): 110–118 (in Russian). EDN LVUQCB

38. Uleyskaya L.A. Contamination of brown bear meat with trichinellosis in the Kansky district of Krasnoyarsk Krai. Student science - a look into the future. Proceedings of the XIX All-Russian student scientific conference. Krasnoyarsk. 2024; 2: 136–138 (in Russian). EDN PEAMDM

39. Kriuchkova E.N., Abalikhin B.G., Sokolov E.A. The current situation of trichinellosis in the Central Non-Chernozem region of the Russian Federation. Veterinarny Vrach. 2019; (5): 28–32 (in Russian). EDN FJCZAS

40. Zhdanova O.B., Okulova I.I., Uspensky A.V., Napisanova L.A. Morphological and functional characteristics of Trichinella sp. larvae in bears and badgers in the Kirov Region. Russian Journal of Parasitology. 2022; 16(1): 63‒69 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2022-16-1-63-69

41. Malofeyeva N.A., Yesaulova N.V., Belogurov V.V. Bear meat quality assessment. Actual problems of veterinary medicine, animal science, biotechnology and examination of raw materials and products of animal origin. Collection of papers of the 3rd Scientific and practical conference. Moscow: Sel’skokhozyaystvennyye tekhnologii. 2024; 151–152 (in Russian). EDN JINHYC

42. Murakami M. et al. Trichinella T9 in wild bears in Japan: Prevalence, species/ genotype identification, and public health implications. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 2023; 21: 264–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.002

43. Zimenkov V.A., Doronin-Dorgelinsky E.A., Sivkova T.N. Intestinal parasites of brown bears in Perm region. Theory and practice of parasitic disease control. Collection of scientific articles based on the materials of the scientific conference. Moscow. 2016; 17: 191–193 (in Russian). EDN XSIFAP

44. Arnemo J.M. et al. Toxic food: commercial bear meat products are highly contaminated with lead (Pb) from hunting ammunition. Exposure and Health. 2026; 18(2): 23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-026-00752-5

45. Green R.E., Pain D.J. Risks to human health from ammunition-derived lead in Europe. Ambio. 2019; 48(9): 954–968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01194-x

46. Borghese M.M. et al. Individual, Independent, and Joint Associations of Toxic Metals and Manganese on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Results from the MIREC Canadian Pregnancy Cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2023; 131(4): 047014. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10825

47. Fuchs B. et al. High concentrations of lead (Pb) in blood and milk of freeranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Scandinavia. Environmental Pollution. 2021; 287: 117595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117595

48. Rogers T.A., Bedrosian B., Graham J., Foresman K.R. Lead exposure in large carnivores in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 2012; 76(3): 575–582. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.277

49. Lazarus M. et al. Metal(loid) exposure assessment and biomarker responses in captive and free-ranging European brown bear (Ursus arctos). Environmental Research. 2020; 183: 109166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109166

50. Boesen A.H. et al. Assessment of the LeadCare® Plus for Use on Scandinavian Brown Bears (Ursus arctos). Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2019; 6: 285. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00285

51. Lazarus M., Sekovanić A., Orct T., Reljić S., Jurasović J., Huber Đ. Sexual Maturity and Life Stage Influences Toxic Metal Accumulation in Croatian Brown Bears. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 2018; 74(2): 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0487-5

52. Lazarus M., Orct T., Reljić S., Sedak M., Bilandžić N., Jurasović J., Huber Đ. Trace and macro elements in the femoral bone as indicators of long-term environmental exposure to toxic metals in European brown bear (Ursus arctos) from Croatia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2018; 25(22): 21656–21670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2296-4

53. Sergeyev A.A., Saveljev A.P., Shulyatieva N.A. Heavy metals in game animals of Kirov region. Recent problems of nature use, game biology and fur farming. Proceedings of International scientific and practical conference. Kirov. 2004; 170–173 (in Russian).

54. Sergeyev A. et al. Is Russian game meat dangerous? A lead and cadmium case. Beitrage zur Jagd -und Wildforschung. 2009; 34: 160–178. EDN URRQQD

55. Čelechovská O., Literák I., Ondruš S., Pospísil Z. Heavy Metals in Brown Bears from the Central European Carpathians. Acta Veterinaria Brno. 2006; 75(4): 501–506. https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200675040501

56. Okunev A.M. Features of accumulation of the technogenic radionuclides in meat of some hunting animals in the Trans-Urals. Agrarian Scientific Journal. 2019; (8): 47–52 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.28983/asj.y2019i8pp47-52

57. Nemoto Y., Saito R., Oomachi H. Seasonal variation of Cesium-137 concentration in Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. PLOS One. 2018; 13(7): e0200797. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200797

58. Herceg Romanić S., Klinčić D., Kljaković-Gašpić Z., Kusak J., Reljić S., Huber Đ. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in wild terrestrial mammals from Croatia: Interspecies comparison of residue levels and compositions. Chemosphere. 2015; 137: 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.05.026

59. Jagić K., Dvoršćak M., Sergiel A., Oster E., Lazarus M., Klinčić D. First data on polybrominated diphenyl ethers and temporal trend of polychlorinated biphenyls in European brown bear as a bioindicator species. Chemosphere. 2024; 362: 142637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142637

60. Polischuk S.C., Norstrom R.J., Ramsay M.A. Body burdens and tissue concentrations of organochlorines in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) vary during seasonal fasts. Environmental Pollution. 2002; 118(1): 29–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0269-7491(01)00278-0

61. Jaspers V.L.B. et al. A screening of persistent organohalogenated contaminants in hair of East Greenland polar bears. Science of the Total Environment. 2010; 408(22): 5613–5618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.059

62. Dietz R. et al. Three decades (1983‒2010) of contaminant trends in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Part 1: Legacy organochlorine contaminants. Environment International. 2013; 59: 485–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2012.09.004

63. Bernhoft A., Wiig Ø., Skaare J.U. Organochlorines in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Svalbard. Environmental Pollution. 1997; 95(2): 159–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(96)00122-4

64. Bentzen T.W., Muir D.C.G., Amstrup S.C., O’Hara T.M. Organohalogen concentrations in blood and adipose tissue of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears. Science of the Total Environment. 2008; 406(1‒2): 352–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.07.030

65. Rebezov Ya.M., Rebezov M.B. Safety of wild boar (Sus scrofa) meat: potential risks (scientific review, part 1). Agrarian science. 2026; 407 (06): 22– 35 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.32634/0869-8155-2026-407-06-22-35

66. Rebezov Yа.M., Rebezov M.B. Safety of wild boar (Sus scrofa) meat: potential risks (scientific review, part 2). Agrarian science. 2026; 408(07): 41–51 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.32634/0869-8155-2026-408-07-41-51