Consumption, microbiology and bromatology of wild meat during COVID-19 in Iquitos, Peru

In Iquitos (Peru), the meat of Cuniculus paca, Pecan tajacu, Tayassu pecari and Chelonoidis denticulatus are consumed in large quantities, however, there is no complete bromatological analysis or updated studies of the bacterial load and presence of coronavirus. Our objective was to know the consumption and the microbiological and bromatological status of wild meat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual interviews were conducted with 213 people between May and June 2020 in Iquitos; for each species, four 500-g meat samples were used for bacteriological and bromatological analysis, and a 500-g meat sample per species was used to search for coronaviruses from the Belen and Modelo markets. We found that wild meat represents 4% of the protein source, its consumption is independent of educational and economic factors, most people like this meat and believe that its consumption does not spread coronavirus. This meat did not have coronaviruses and presented less bacterial load than other products of greater consumption in the markets studied. Likewise, it had low fat content, low phosphorus/protein ratio, high riboflavin and calcium content. That is, this meat during the pandemic was healthy and nutritious.