Proximate, Amino Acid, Fatty Acid and Mineral Analysis of Clam, Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) from Cuddalore and Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India

Proximate, Amino Acid, Fatty Acid and Mineral Analysis of Clam, Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) from Cuddalore and Parangipettai Coast, South East Coast of India

The eulamellibranch bivalves, M. casta Chemnitz is an edible mollusc belonging to phylum Mollusca, class Bivalvia and family Veneridae. It is abundantly found in marine and estuarine water bodies at high rates in the local markets of Tamil Nadu along Indian coast. The clam meat is white and sweet and tasty. Whereas most food sources for the humans are provided from marine flora and fauna, now a days clams has been functionally used as another good source of food nutrients to man compared to marine animals. The bivalves are also known to be good sources for the provision of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. This study was conducted to assess the nutritional qualities of M. casta of the Cuddalore and Parangipettai in two different coasts.