Wild boars across Europe are becoming 'radioactive' after eating contaminated mushrooms

Animal experts in the Czech Republic have warned that wild boar meat is becoming RADIOACTIVE, after cold weather forced the animals to eat mushrooms that have absorbed radioactive energy.

Harsh conditions are reportedly forcing the boars to dine on false truffles, an underground mushroom that is commonly found in the Sumava Mountain Region – shared by the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

But after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster more than three decades ago, high levels of the radioactive isotope Caesium 137 were absorbed by the mushrooms when it eventually descended on the mountains.

Now, it’s claimed that the boars are ingesting the mushrooms, and in turn the isotopes, making them radioactive.

Jiri Drapal of the State Veterinary Administration said: It is more or less a seasonal issue.

‘But it’s a long season. The half life of Caesium 137 is 30 years – that is, it takes 30 years for the radioactivity of the isotope to fall to half its original value.

‘We can expect to find (affected) food for a number of years from now.’

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Despite the warning, Drapal doesn’t believe that any radioactive boars will end up as goulash – as the meat is vigorously inspected before it is placed on sale, and a strict ban exists on radioactive meat.

Drapal also says that there isn’t a real need to worry if you do eat the radioactive meat, either.

He claims that you would have to eat it several times a week for couple of months before it was at risk of becoming a health hazard.

That’s a whole lot of goulash.