Abstract
The nutritional composition and mineral contents of the fresh water snail (Pila ampullacea) from Lower River Benue was investigated. This was carried out using the methods outline in Association for Official Analytical Chemist (A.O.A.C. 1995) in the Vertinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. The results obtained showed that the snail contained 76.32%±0.84 moisture, 10.67%± 0.15 protein, 0.06%± 0.02 lipids, 5.54% ±0.11 ash, 0.03%± 0.01 crude fiber and 7.40%± 0.06 Nitrogen free extract. The following minerals were found to be present in the snail. These were calcium 129.18± 0.77mg/100g, potassium 71.13 ±0.51mg/100g, phosphorous 60.52 ±0.35mg/100g, iron 10.19 ±0.19, sodium 0.04± 0.01mg/100g, magnesium 31.19± 0.57mg/100g and zinc 1.31± 0.03mg/100g. This study therefore places P. ampullacea as a good source 0f major and micro- elements and a good source of healthy food for proper growth and development of the body. Its production either from the wild or cultured environment could be a good source of income for the teaming population.
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