Gastropods

Gastropods is the common name for molluscs within the class Gastropoda, characterised by a single muscular foot. The group includes snails, aquatic and marine, limpets, whelks, abalone and sea slugs, several of which are eaten as delicacies such as escargots. They can accumulate marine biotoxins, heavy metals and parasites from their environment, so harvesting areas must be monitored and cooking must be thorough to destroy parasites and pathogens. Farmed snails offer more controlled safety than wild-collected ones, and commercial products are checked for contaminants and correct species identification.