Whelks

Whelks are marine gastropod molluscs of the family Buccinidae, sea snails with a worldwide range in cold and temperate waters. The trade centres on Buccinum undatum, the common whelk, and Neptunea antiqua, the red whelk. Their flesh is firm and can be tough, so pounding tenderises many species before eating, and the market forms run from fresh in-shell, cooked or uncooked, through semi-preserved in vinegar and salt, to canned. Europe and Asia eat them widely in salads, pastas, and traditional seaside servings with vinegar. As coastal shellfish they must come from classified waters and be cooked thoroughly to manage bacterial and biotoxin risks.