Some merchants will choose to use snails instead when selling fried snails, because snails are cheaper than snails per catty. But there are many parasites in the snail, can it be eaten? Come and learn about it with Bian Xiao!

Can snails be eaten?

Pomacea canaliculata is edible, protein is high, but the meat tastes bad, so people don't like it. However, there is no regulation in China that does not prohibit Ampullaria gigas from selling food.

In addition, Ampullaria gigas is one of the hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Eating immature snails will be parasitic by nematodes, leading to persistent headaches. In severe cases, the head can't shake, at the same time, the neck feels stiff and the activity is limited, accompanied by fever, fatigue and other symptoms, and the most serious will lead to meningitis and even death.

How to eat snails safely?

Eating half-cooked snails may cause infection of parasites such as Angiostrongylus cantonensis in human body, so it is necessary to cook snails thoroughly in the process of food and beverage processing.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis can be infected because humans eat snails raw or half-eaten. But cooked snails are edible. Cooked snails kill parasites and eggs at high temperature, so they can be eaten.

Bian Xiao tip: Although Ampullaria gigas can be eaten after high-temperature cooking, it is not clear whether the cooking time is mature or not, so it is best to be careful when choosing food.