Is Game meat / venison safe during pregnancy?

Meat & poultry

Avoid

The NHS lists game meats such as venison as foods to avoid in pregnancy, noting they may contain lead.[1]

What official sources say

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Meat and poultry › Foods to avoid: Game meats such as goose, partridge, pheasant and venison are on the list of foods to avoid in pregnancy.[1]
  • Game meats may contain lead, which can also harm the baby.[1]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy120 kcal
Protein22.96 g
Fibre0 g
Sugars0 g
Iron3.4 mg
Calcium5 mg
Folate (DFE)4 µg
Folate, total4 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)0 µg
Vitamin C0 mg
Vitamin B126.31 µg
DHA (omega-3)0 g
EPA (omega-3)0 g
Caffeine0 mg
Sodium51 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Game meat, deer, raw (FDC ID 173855), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.