[Lancashire Lad]

Don't want to take any wind from your sails, but here's an extract from an article on the web. You'll have to make your own mind up regarding whether you fancy eating them, although from the sounds of this, provided they are cooked properly, they would seem to be a delicacy.

Extract from: - www.marlin.ac.uk/marine_aliens/species.asp?SpID=19

Parasites: In the Far East the mitten crab is the second intermediate host of the oriental lung fluke, Paragonimus westermanii (Kerbert, 1878), and if the crab is eaten uncooked or partially cooked, the parasite can infect humans, causing the disease paragonimiasis. However, establishment of this lung disease in Britain is thought unlikely because P. westermanii is specific to a primary intermediate host of aquatic snails assigned to the Thiaridae, and the climate in Britain is too cold for members of this gastropod family.


Commercial exploitation: Mitten crabs are considered to be a delicacy in many Far Eastern countries including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan (click here for fig. 15). The resident Chinese community also imports the crab into the UK under the vernacular name of “moon crabs”. Consequently there appears to be a possible market for Thames mitten crabs and commercial exploitation may provide an opportunity as effective method of controlling population size, while providing financial benefits to local fishermen. This project proposes to investigate the population structure and density of mitten crabs around the year at various sites along the River Thames, using commercial (artisanal) fishery techniques, to determine whether commercial exploitation of the mitten crab population is feasible.


UK food regulations: In collaboration with the Port Health Services, London (PHS), the project proposes to determine whether mitten crabs from the Thames are fit for human consumption. PHS are the food authority for the Thames and food products originating from the Thames must pass strict criteria to ensure there is no potential for diseases to be passed onto to humans. The PHS is currently investigating the Thames population for the parasitic lung fluke, Paragonimus westermanii, which can cause symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis. The Natural History Museum will collaborate with PHS and test Thames crabs for heavy metals and organic chemical contaminants. There is an expectation that this collaboration could provide the necessary evidence that Thames mitten crabs meet current food regulations thereby declaring it fit for human consumption and exportation.

Regards
Mike.