The lead-in-venison scare that was created when a North Dakota doctor and hunter found trace amounts of lead in samples of venison burger worried us.

We were less worried, though, about the remote possibility of people getting lead poisoning from eating too much venison than we are about the probability of people going hungry if community food banks all across South Dakota stopped distributing donated deer meat permanently.

In North Dakota, officials ordered food banks to throw out donated venison after samples from various food pantries in the state showed lead contamination, probably from bullet fragments.

In light of that, the South Dakota Department of Health issued guidelines to food banks on recommended venison portions but stopped short of recommending that they not distribute venison to the public.

Community Food Banks of South Dakota did cease distribution of venison for a time, but resumed it recently, according to executive director Matt Gassen.

Now, in addition to the meat, anybody who receives venison from a food bank agency will get a simplified version of the state's warning about lead and guidelines on venison consumption.

We're glad to see such a common-sense approach to the issue. Along with accurate information about safe consumption levels, the people who need the meat most should be given the choice to eat it if they wish.

Donated venison is an important source of free meat for low-income people all across South Dakota. In Rapid City, the Sportsmen Against Hunger program donated almost 15,000 pounds of it in 2006. Statewide, the program has given more than 110,000 pounds of wild game since it began in 1993, and that meat always disappears quickly from food bank freezers. With rapidly rising grocery prices, the wild game protein source is more needed than ever before.

Certainly, unsafe levels of lead in any food source is cause for concern. We're pleased that food bank and state health officials are concerned about it, and glad the state is seeking more data to ensure public health and safety.

Further advice for food banks, or changes to current recommendations, may be forthcoming, depending on what is found in tests being performed by other states' laboratories.

But we hope food banks, hunters and state government are able to work together to ensure the continuation of an important meat donation program.