LUCRĂRI ŞTIINğIFICE, SERIA I, VOL. XIII (2) 31 CONSUMERS’ OPINION ABOUT THE HYGIENIC RISKS OF THE MEAT OF WILD UNGULATES OPINIA CONSUMATORILOR DESPRE RISCURILE IGIENICE ALE CARNII DE COPITATE SALBATICE BODNAR K. 1 , BODNARNE SKOBRAK ERIKA 1 , TANACS L. 1 , PINNYEY SZ. 1 1 University of Szeged, Faculty of Agriculture, Hodmezovasarhely,Hungary bodnar@mgk.u-szeged.hu Abstract: In our recent survey the habits and attitudes of consumers were analyzed in context of the hygiene and safety of wild ungulates animals’ meat. One of the aims was to map the consumers’ fears from hygienic imperfections and the main causes of rejection of consumption. The results represent a descriptive picture on the acceptance, rejection, attitudes and preferences concerning the given product categories. Data were collected by questionnaires and personal interviews. In the recent paper we focused on the following species: red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, mouflon and wild boar. Differences were found between the answers of the asked sample population living in cities and in the rural areas. Those people who have a negative attitude to game meat are vegetarian or refuse consumption due to fear from diseases or emotional reasons. Key words: game meat, hygienic rules, attitude of consumers, diseases, food safety INTRODUCTION The total consumption of game meats in Hungary is less than 1kg/capita/year. Hunters and their families eat game meat frequently, but most of the people are not familiar with it. Wild ungulate meats generally have a low fat content, although with a certain variability associated with gender, hunting season, age and physiological conditions, and a favourable fatty acid composition. In general, they are darker, less tender and characterised by a more intense and peculiar flavour than meats from