Proximate and heavy metal composition in chicken meat and tissues

Three different aged groups (4-week, 8-week and 18-week) of chickens were obtained from Manisa (in Turkey) Poultry Diseases Research and Vaccine Production Institute. Eleven metals (Cd, Ca, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Hg, K, Na and Zn) and one non-metal (P) (heart, gizzard, livers, kidneys and spleens and some mineral matter in chicken tissues and meats) were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A flame photometer was used for determinations of sodium and potassium. After oven-drying of samples, P was determined by a colorimetric method. Proximate and mineral composition of heart, gizzard and meat from different aged group chickens were determined. It is concluded that there is wide variation in metal contents of these tissues.