Occupational Exposure and Economic Inequity Along a Game Meat Trade Network in Cross River State, Nigeria

Game meat supply chains create variable safety risks and economic benefits across traders, yet research often focuses on hunters or consumers while overlooking meat preparation and processing roles. This study examines how zoonotic disease exposure, precautionary behaviors, and economic returns vary across hunters, vendors, and restaurant workers within the game meat trade in Cross River State, Nigeria. Between January 2023 and April 2024, we conducted 91 annual and 760 monthly interviews with 91 actors, including hunters, vendors, and restaurant workers, documenting handling practices, hygienic precautions, risk perceptions, and income derived from the game meat trade. Hunters reported the highest levels of direct contact with high-risk meat states and the lowest use of hygienic precautions. Vendors generated higher income than other actors, while hunters reported lower economic dependence on game meat than either vendors or restaurants. These findings demonstrate that game meat safety risks and livelihood benefits are distributed unevenly across value chains. Recognizing these asymmetries is essential for designing food safety interventions and policies that protect public health and anticipate differential impacts on livelihoods.