MENHADEN BODY LIPIDS - DETAILS OF FATTY-ACIDS IN LIPIDS FROM AN UNTAPPED FOOD RESOURCE

Menhaden are utilized almost exclusively for fish meal production. The depot fat is concentrated in the bodies. In anticipation of developments in deboned or minced fishery products menhaden body lipids were recovered and separated into polar and triglyceride fractions for detailed fatty acid study. The original lipid contains about 30% long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and could be nutritionally beneficial if protected from autoxidation. A simple petroleum ether extraction removes essentially the same material as found in oil from reduction of whole fish but leaves half the original lipid in the fish.