Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Some Selected Commercial Fish Feeds Used in Bangladesh

Quality fish feed is the prime need for successful aquaculture. Feed qualities determine the fish flesh quality including appearance, color, odor, flavor, texture, nutritive value, and shelf-life. Nowadays, consumers are very much concerned about various issues regarding way of fish farming, types of feed ingredients used etc. The current study was conducted to assess the heavy metal contents and nutritional composition of some selected commercial fish feeds used in Bangladesh. The major heavy metal concentrations and proximate composition (moisture, crude protein, crude lipid, ash, crude fiber, and carbohydrate) of the collected feed samples were analyzed. The results showed that the feeds contained a number of heavy metals in varying proportions. The highest concentrations (mg/kg) of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) analyzed in fish feed samples were 0.189, 0.027, 1.023, 0.303, and 1.468, respectively. There were significant differences between the nutritive values provided by feed companies and the values observed in this finding. The present study recommends that adequate measures are required to be taken by commercial fish feed manufacturers to ensure the nutritional quality of feed as well as to avoid the contamination of feed from heavy metals. Otherwise, fish and human, the ultimate consumer, may be predisposed to the assimilation and accumulation of the assessed heavy metals.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the heavy metal contents and nutritional composition of commercial fish feeds used in Bangladesh, finding that the feeds contained various heavy metals. There were significant differences between the nutritive values provided by feed companies and this study's findings, prompting recommendations for measures to ensure feed quality and avoid contamination from heavy metals.