Publikationsdatenbank

Raccoon on the menu? Insights from a consumer survey and preliminary laboratory results on the processing of raccoon meat for consumption (2025)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Schöbel, Chiara-Maria (WE 8)

Gross, Julia (WE 8)

Langforth, Susann (WE 8)

Meemken, D. (WE 8)

Kongress

The 14th PhD and Doctoral Symposium

Berlin, 18.09.2025

Quelle

Sprache

Englisch

Kontakt

Institut für Lebensmittelsicherheit und -hygiene

Königsweg 69
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62551 / 52790
lebensmittelhygiene@vetmed.fu-berlin.de / fleischhygiene@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Introduction: Since 2016, the raccoon has been listed by the European Commission as an invasive alien species of Union concern, which requires the implementation of various management measures to protect the diversity of the native ecosystem. At the same time, these animals represent a resource that has hardly been used as a source of game meat in Germany to date. A consumer survey was carried out to investigate the public's acceptance of the processing and consumption of raccoon meat in Germany. In addition, initial results of different laboratory diagnostic tests on the occurrence of various zoonotic pathogens relevant to meat hygiene in raccoon samples are presented.

Materials and Methods: A consumer survey, created using LimeSurvey software, was conducted between September and November 2024 with 2,156 participants from Germany. Various samples (e.g. feces and muscle tissue) were collected from freshly shot raccoons for laboratory testing. The samples were examined for Alaria alata using the Alaria alata mesocercaria migration technique, Salmonella spp. using cultivation, and Baylisascaris procyonis using sedimentation methods.

Results: Most survey participants consider the processing of shot raccoons as food to be useful. The protection of native species and the sustainability spect were identified as key motivating factors. In contrast, the main reason against consumption were primarily health concerns. Initial laboratory tests have detected various zoonotic pathogens relevant to meat hygiene.

Conclusion: Overall, the survey results showed that many consumers in Germany generally accept raccoons as a potential source of meat. The detection of various zoonotic pathogens underscores the need for specific procedures during hunting, processing, and preparation of raccoons to prevent any risk to consumer health. It is necessary to raise awareness about these potential risks and to further educate hunters and consumers, so that they are able to act accordingly, especially regarding the handling of raccoon meat.