Sandie Seward
Site Admin
Joined: 21 Nov 2005
Posts: 4426
Location: South Essex
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 Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: Brixton and Hoxton Snails. |
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I am a Memeber of a Snail Site and Forum, and recently there has been rather a lot of concern over the way snails are displayed and sold for food at these London markets.
The concern is that before being sold, they are imported from Africa without being treated "humanely", and all all crowded together in baskets at the front of the Stalls and shops that sell them.
Because of this overcrowding, many withdraw tightly into their (often damaged) shells, or even die before being sold.
Th Members of the other Forum are in the process of trying to secure some help over this issue.
All the major Animal Charities, including the RSPCA have been contacted, but so far, the response from these people has been rather disapointing..
It seems that snails are not covered by the same type of legislation as other animals killed for food, and therefore, these Snail Traders can get away with bad practice.
Eating snails, is common amongst people of African Nations, as snails are, indeed, rich in proteins and vitamins.
However, this is only when they are fresh and healthy, not when they are traumatised or half dead.
We must continue to bring pressure to bear on the Government and the Animal Charities to keep an eye on this issue.
Many people have "rescued" snails from these markets, and re-homed them, after nursing them back to full health, as they make lovely pets.
Found this report by another Member, regarding Brixton Snails.
Brixton Market
by Anjie Burdett
I had heard talk of the African food market at Brixton and the snails that were sold there as a food item, I was told they were piled high in baskets....all stacked on top of each other, deprived of food and water until they were sold and taken home by someone who was going to cook them!
That's when I decided to go myself, Arno Brosi came over from Holland so we could go together and SHOCK....HORROR.....we were told they wouldn't have any snails until the week after. How disappointing that was I can't put into words but I didn't give up, I went back again a week or so later and eventually found the shop that had said they would have some. I couldn't believe my eyes, a huge Margie slithering across the pavement! It was unreal, never forget it. Here I was in a market in South London and here was the biggest snail I had ever seen in my life wandering around on the pavement!
The snails were indeed in baskets, except the ones that were strong enough to escape onto the pavement - those were the ones I bought first. I bought as many as I could afford and they were all thrown into plastic carrier bags, I think I bought 30(ish) on my first visit. It's not nice having to wade through dead and stinking snails to find the ones that are even half alive, but its so worth it when you get home and gently scrub the shells clean to reveal beautiful stripes. The majority of the snails I have bought from Brixton have been Margies but I was fortunate enough on 2 visits to find Tiger snails too.
Brixton snails have been badly treated, starved, dehydrated and thrown around like rubbish - they need more care than your average captive-bred Margie or Tiger. After cleaning I put them in bare tanks with no substrate, a dish of water and some fairly bland food - lettuce or cucumber. They don't usually eat for the first day or so but one thing they always do is drink. I leave them alone as much as possible the first night, they are still extremely shy and I don't want to stress them out more than is needed. The day after I bring them home I check them over and repair any shell damage that needs it, its during these checks that I usually find the snails are covered in white scars and cuts and some have chunks missing out of their feet or faces. They all have one thing in common and that's their skin....it looks dull and lifeless - just a dull grey colour with white blotches. After they have been eating and drinking for a week or so you can see the condition of their skin improving - it gets a glossy sheen, and the normal brown Margie skin colour returns with the dark brown stripe up the neck to the head, the white blotches also disappear.
The snails stay in tanks with no substrate for the first week of their stay with me, I do this for 2 reasons - firstly and most importantly so I can monitor their faeces for any nasties - like worms or other parasites that may be present inside the snails. Secondly - I clean the snails out totally everyday and with substrate in there this works out a bit expensive, throwing the coir away and replacing it everyday.
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