KOCHI: Is Giant African Snail safe for human consumption? A new controversy popped up on Tuesday, a day after the scientists from CMFRI declared that the snails are good for consumption. Opposing the finding, the Forest Health Division of Kerala Forest Research Institute, on Tuesday, issued a statement that they pose serious health threats if consumed. “The problem caused by Giant African Snail, Achatina fulica, is known in Kerala for many years now. Efforts to manage it reached new heights this year with many local self help governments, agriculture department, Kudumbasree units, Asha workers and the general public taking up integrated efforts to eradicate local populations and to prevent their spread. However, mobilisations were seriously thwarted with the Public Relations Department coming out with the statement that the snails are edible and that they will fetch foreign currency,” according to the statement.
“It is not safe to consume the snail. This is because of the presence of Angiostrongylis cantonensis- a nematode parasite which cause meningitis in humans,” according to our findings. “The snail belongs to one among the 100 worst invasive species in the world and quarantine regulations prevent transport of snails,” they further clarified.