Composition and Pesticide and Herbicide Residue Analysis of Fresh and 40-Year-Old Pasteurized Blue Crab ( Callinectes sapidus ) Meat

J Food Prot. 1991 Apr;54(4):298-301. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-54.4.298.

Abstract

Fresh and 40-year-old pasteurized blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ) meat was analyzed for proximate composition, mineral, heavy metal, and amino acid content and volatiles concentration and possible pesticide and herbicide residue levels. Both fresh and 40-year-old meat had similar proximate compositions. The 40-year-old crab meat contained high levels of iron, manganese, copper, and heavy metals compared to the fresh. Recovery of total amino acids was lower from the 40-year-old meat. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, leucine, lysine, and arginine were the major protein amino acids of fresh and 40-year-old crab meat. The 40-year-old meat contained high concentrations of ethanol and trimethylamine compared to the fresh. No herbicide residues were detected in either of the products. Decomposition products of pesticide DDT were detected at very low levels only in the 40-year-old crab meat.