Maine Warns Hunters to Avoid Eating Deer and Turkey Due to Possible PFAS Contamination [Video]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or forever chemicals, have been found in groundwater, tap water, bottled water and food packaging. Now, officials in Maine are warning that these chemicals may be turning up in wild game in certain parts of the state, and that hunters should refrain from eating what they kill.

This hunting season, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) have put out a “Do Not Eat” Advisory after finding high levels of PFAS in soil in some areas of the state. Affected areas under the advisory include Albion, Fairfield, Freedom, Skowhegan, Unity and Unity Township. Hunters can check the affected areas in the advisory map.

The advisory warns hunters against eating any parts of white-tailed deer or wild turkey hunted in the affected areas. For these areas, hunters will be limited to hunting for …