Knowledgebase
Cooking Temperature - Wild Game Meat #882089
Asked August 19, 2024, 10:46 AM EDT
Kent County Michigan
Expert Response
Great question! There are different recommendations for different purposes. The chart you reference from foodsafety.gov is a great resource for consumers making food at home. The FDA's 2022 food code contains the most current recommendations for food service. A chart summarizing those recommendations can be found here at https://llhd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Chart-4-A-Minimum-Cooking-Temperatures-2022-FDA-Food-Code.pdf
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Hi, thank you for that resource. I am specifically looking for the guidelines from the standpoint of consumers making food at home. The chart I referenced does not specify working with wild game meats. Just curious if you need to cook wild game meat to a different temperature than farm-raised meats.
Thank you.
From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2024 2:20 PM
To: Jake Anderson
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: Cooking Temperature - Wild Game Meat (#0152006)
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization.
Thank you for that clarification. Foodsafety.gov says,
| Rabbit and venison | Wild or farm-raised | 160°F (71°C) |
If you need more information please feel free to contact me.
Thank you. Venison in that table apparently is not referring to all types of wild game meat. I asked about this specifically and this is the response I got from USDA’s Meat & Poultry Hotline:
“No, wild game meat (including moose and bear, etc.) would be different types of meats of course, however the recommended safe internal temperature would be same as that for venison or other wild game of red meat types.”
I couldn’t find any documentation on their website to cite this. That’s when they referred me to contact my state extension service agent. If you are aware of any documentation that I can cite, that would be greatly appreciated. If not, I will just let leave it as is.
Thanks.
From: ask=<personal data hidden> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2024 9:25 AM
To: Jake Anderson
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: Cooking Temperature - Wild Game Meat (#0152006)
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization.
I could not find a resource similar to the one you showed me, that provides cooking temperature recommendations for other game meats. However, the CDC states,
"Cooking wild game meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is recommended by public health authorities." This was in response to an outbreak of Trichinellosis in humans caused by eating black bear.
Let me know if you need something more.
