  We study the anomalous decays $\pi^0, \eta \to\gamma\gamma$ in the framework
of the three--flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio [NJL] model, in the vacuum and in
quark matter in $\beta$ --equilibrium. It is found that the behavior of the
relevant observables essentially reflects a manifestation of the partial
restoration of chiral symmetry, in non strange and strange sectors. The
probability of such decays decreases with density, showing that anomalous
mesonic interactions are significantly affected by the medium.
