Percentages of samples of game and chicken that exceeded each of three threshold values of lead concentration (100, 1000 and 10000 ppb wet weight).

*VMD data. All other data are from the WWT study.
Results were derived from two independent studies. In one study by WWT, chickens and gamebirds were prepared and cooked using methods characteristic of the UK involving or not involving acidic marinades or sauces. Concentrations of lead were derived from analyses of meat and sauce separately, which were combined to give an estimate of wet weight concentration in the meat and sauce combined. The other study was the statutory surveillance programme of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and involves analyses of aliquots from homogenised fresh carcasses. In each case, the observed percentage of samples with concentrations exceeding the threshold is given, together with an estimate from a fitted lognormal distribution with left-censoring at the limit of quantification (LOD, or LOQ for VMD data). Values for the VMD samples with concentrations below 300 ppb were not reported for the period 2001–2003, so the observed proportion exceeding 100 ppb is given for the period 2004–2008. Sample sizes are shown for 2004–2008, and in brackets for 2001–2008.