Should you discard the tails when eating snails?

1. Should you discard the tails when eating snails?

• A

  Have

  According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former staff member of the Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, snails living in deep mud environments often contain many types of parasites harmful to the body. Each snail can contain 3,000-6,000 parasitic tube worms.
  Undercooked snails can become contaminated with parasites, putting consumers at high risk of digestive problems, abdominal pain, nausea, edema in the limbs, cancer, or other dangerous diseases caused by parasites. There's a folk saying, "eel head, snail tail." When eating snails, you should remove the tail as it contains a lot of dirt and is not good for the digestive system, especially for people with poor digestion, pregnant women, and young children.
  Before eating, families should clean the snails thoroughly by soaking them in clean water several times or soaking them in rice water and chili peppers to remove all the mud before cooking.

• B

  Are not

2. Can eating boiled snails cause parasitic infections?

• A

  Are not

• B

  Have

  According to Dr. Tran Huy Tho, Deputy Director of Dang Van Ngu Hospital, Central Institute of Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology, snails are a delicious dish enjoyed by many, prepared in various ways such as boiled, steamed, and grilled. However, improper preparation can increase the risk of parasitic infections. Snail shells are very thick and hard, so it takes a long time for the meat inside to cook thoroughly.
  With grilled snails, the shells may char, but the inside might not be cooked through. Many people see the charred shells and think the snails are cooked, so they eat them. This is a common cause of parasitic infections from snails. In reality, snails sold at restaurants are usually only cooked until just done because overcooking makes them tough and less crunchy. This cooking method allows parasitic infections to enter the body.
  Many people infected with liver flukes shared that they never ate raw food like raw fish or shrimp, but upon closer questioning, they said they frequently ate boiled snails from restaurants. People need to eat cooked food and drink boiled water, especially avoiding raw or undercooked snails. An important note is that regardless of their environment, snails should be soaked for 2-4 hours after being caught or purchased to remove any bacteria residing in the shells. Then, rinse them several times with clean water before cooking.

3. Who should limit their consumption of snails?

• A

  People with gout and arthritis

• B

  People who are prone to allergies

• C

  People who have coughs or asthma

• D

  All three groups of people above

  Although shellfish is nutritious, not everyone can eat it. To avoid triggering painful flare-ups, people with gout or arthritis should limit their consumption of shellfish. Those prone to allergies should eat a very small amount to observe their body's reaction. If hives, itching, nausea, facial swelling, abdominal cramps, burning sensation in the upper abdomen, diarrhea, or difficulty breathing appear within minutes or hours, they should seek immediate medical attention and absolutely refrain from eating shellfish. People with coughs or asthma should avoid seafood, especially shellfish, as it can worsen their condition; therefore, they should avoid seafood to best protect their health.

Nhu Loan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/an-oc-co-nen-bo-duoi-ar906068.html