FSA to survey cadmium in brown meat of crab

13 February 2012

The Food Standards Agency is inviting tenders for a survey of cadmium levels in the brown meat of crab and products containing brown meat on sale in the UK.

The European Commission has recommended that member states provide consumption advice to their consumers in order to limit their exposure to cadmium from brown crabmeat. Levels of cadmium in brown crabmeat are often higher than those in the white meat. The brown meat contains the crab's digestive organ (the hepatopancreas), which can accumulate chemical contaminants.

The FSA is carrying out this survey to update its data on cadmium levels in brown crabmeat and its products. This will ensure that consumption advice to consumers is consistent with cadmium levels in brown crabmeat and brown crabmeat products that are currently on sale.

More in formation on the FSA website: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2012/feb/crabtender