Do crabs easily accumulate dioxins? There is still no research; it can only be confirmed that it is related to the environment
However, at present there has been no monitoring or research in the country on the dioxin content of crustaceans; it can only be confirmed that the accumulation of dioxins is closely related to the environment. Huang Dengfu, a lifetime distinguished professor in the Department of Food Science at National Taiwan Ocean University, said: "The dioxin content of caught and farmed crabs also cannot be compared, but it can be confirmed that crabs caught along the coast of Taiwan, China are much safer than those from China," because Taiwan, China has more advanced environmental protection regulations and less pollution than China, while China has many coastal bays, frequent vessel traffic, and is more likely to discharge pollutants.
As for farmed crabs, because dioxins drift with the air and settle into pond water and sediment through rainfall, crab farming ponds will also have dioxin residues. "So the farming environment is very important, and farmers must monitor the sediment," Huang Dengfu said, adding that product sampling should also be done at the time of shipment, and consumers should give priority to buying crabs with clear and definite sources.
Food and Drug Administration: Crabs will be included in dioxin sampling items by the end of the year
Wang Deyuan, deputy director of the Northern Regional Management Center of the Food and Drug Administration, said that all imported aquatic products in our country must comply with the "Sanitation Standards for Aquatic Animals" and the "Standards for Veterinary Drug Residues," among others, but there is no testing specifically for dioxins; however, hairy crabs from China and some Southeast Asian countries must be accompanied by other documents.
Hairy crabs from China must be accompanied by documents of official approval for farming from 31 establishments, and when exported to Taiwan, China they must be accompanied by a "Animal Health Certificate" approved by the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau and tested for 16 veterinary drugs; upon arrival in Taiwan, China they must also be sampled batch by batch. Live mud crabs imported from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere must come from factories approved by our country before they can be exported to Taiwan, China, and after arriving in Taiwan, China they must also be tested for 16 veterinary drugs. At present, 17 establishments are approved in the Philippines, 6 in Thailand, and 1 in Vietnam.
It is understood that the Food and Drug Administration conducts monitoring of dioxin content in aquatic products every year. This year, crabs were included in the sampling items for the first time. In the future, the degree of risk will determine whether inspections of dioxin content in crabs will be conducted next year.
Clear source and moderate intake make for safe eating
Kang Pinxiang, spokesperson for the Taiwan, China Hairy Crab Farming Association, said that at present all hairy crabs about to go on the market in the country are tested for veterinary drugs. Farms that have joined the association clearly label their sources, and both farm owners and the association conduct double sampling to ensure product safety.
"But as long as the public buys from clear and reliable sources and does not consume excessively, there is no need to worry too much." Huang Dengfu said that people at home usually crave crabs mostly in autumn, not year-round or in large amounts. Although there is still a risk of dioxin residues, the risk is quite low if it is no more than once a week.
Zhao Qiang, a dietitian at Mackay Memorial Hospital, said that about 1/5 of the cholesterol in the human body is obtained through eating eggs and animal meat, and eating saturated fat will make human cholesterol soar. Therefore, in the United States earlier this year it was recommended that patients with high cholesterol should strengthen control of the intake of saturated fat such as lard, butter and fatty meat, "so eggs were excluded." And when people at home eat crab roe and crab paste, they also pair it with "big fish and big meat," and the crab roe and crab paste with multiplied high cholesterol will raise health concerns, so excessive consumption is still not recommended.
