NATIONAL ESCARGOT DAY

Each year on May 24th, National Escargot Day honors the famous French dish of cooked land snails. While escargot is enjoyed by many it is an acquired taste. Many French restaurants serve the dish as an appetizer. #NationalEscargotDay

Cooks usually prepare Escargo by removing the land snails from their shells, cooking them with garlic, butter, and wine. Once cooked, the gastropods go back into their shells with the sauce for serving. Because the snails are clumsy to eat, special forks and tongs help improve the dining experience.

The science of growing snails is known as heliciculture. In the United States, more people are raising snails for culinary purposes. Even though escargot still seems exotic to American palates, around the world escargot has long been a popular dish.

If you’ve never experienced escargot, this is the holiday to try it. Find a restaurant near you that serves the delicacy and order a plate. Be sure to order wine, too. If you’re looking for a recipe to try at home, we have a recipe for you to try as well.

If you’re food adventurous, read 9 Odd Foods That Are An Acquired Taste. #NationalEscargotDay to post on social media.

National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this French dining holiday. We suspect the founder is dining on a bed on snails.

Roger Lowell Putnam announced the name of a new planet discovered by Percival Lowell. Temporarily named Planet X, the new 9th planet in the solar system was named Pluto.

The U.S. Patent Office issued the first patent for a coin-operated parking meter. Oklahoman Carl Magee received patent no. 2,118,318 for his invention and initially trademarked it as the “Dual.” However, Magee would later rename the invention the “Park-O-Meter.” Oklahoma City installs the first units in July 1935.

Astronaut Scott Carpenter flew aboard the Aurora 7 and became the second American to orbit the Earth.

The troubled supersonic jet called the Concorde begins its regular passenger services between Europe and Washington, D.C. five years after its first intercontinental flight.

Paul McCartney performs live in Russia for the first time. The Red Square concert hosted an audience of 20,000.

The monarch of Great Britain and Ireland served for 64 years. Only her great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II has ruled longer. She was also the first person diagnosed with hemophilia, a blood disorder that is also called the Royal Disease.

In the 1930s, the American physician helped establish pediatric cardiology at the Harriet Lane Home in Baltimore. Now called the Harriet Lane Clinic, the home was the first of its kind, providing care solely for children.

The Canadian-American actor, comedian, and musician is best known for pairing up with Cheech Marin for cannabis-filled humor in films like Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke, Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie and Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This.

Since the early 1960s, Bob Dylan’s unique style of folk music has gained respect and influenced artists across genres. The eleven-time Grammy-winning artist earned the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.

For nearly 60 years the iconic and award-winning singer/songwriter has been writing, performing and creating hits like “Forever Young” and “Lady Marmalade.”

The Grammy-winning country music singer/songwriter rose in popularity during the 1980s.

What Kind Of Health Risks Do Snails Pose?

We’ve all come across snails, whether it’s while walking on a beach, taking pictures on a hill, or ordering something in a restaurant. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’d come across the word “escargot” on fancy menus during a trip to France, Spain, Portugal, Catalonia, Morocco, or Algeria. And, while a quick search will tell you all there is to know about snails, you might also stumble upon a few articles questioning the safety of being around and consuming them.

As it turns out, snails could be among the deadliest animals if you look at the official number of people who die each year because of them! According to an infographic released by Bill Gates, animals like sharks kill about 10 people a year, lions 100 and crocodiles 1,000, despite having some of the most fearsome reputations. So if you’re wondering whether you should opt for a side of snails for dinner or pet one on your next trip, we’ve listed out a few health risks you should consider first.

Freshwater Snails Might Cause Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms called schistosomes. The parasites that cause schistosomiasis live in certain types of freshwater snails. The infectious form of the parasite, known as cercariae, emerges from the snail, hence contaminating water.

Schistosomiasis is transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water (lakes and ponds, rivers, dams) inhabited by snails carrying the parasite. Swimming, bathing, fishing, and even domestic chores such as laundry and herding livestock can put people at risk of contracting the disease. Needless to say, you’re also likely to contract the condition if you consume freshwater snails.

Among human diseases caused by parasites, schistosomiasis ranks second behind malaria in terms of its social, economic, and public health impact in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Worldwide, more than 700 million people are at risk of infection and more than 207 million people are infected.

Schistosomes Can Live In The Human Blood Vessels For Years

People suffering from schistosomiasis contaminate freshwater sources with excreta containing parasite eggs. These hatch in water and the hatched eggs become ready to infect any freshwater snails in their path. Inside the snails, the young worms grow capable of burrowing back into the human skin. Larvae emerge from the snails and swim in the water until they come into contact with a human and penetrate the skin.

Once inside the body, the larvae develop into male and female worms which pair up and live together in the blood vessels for years. Female worms release thousands of eggs, which are passed out of the body in the urine and feces. If people urinate or defecate in freshwater bodies, the eggs migrate to snails where they eventually hatch and begin the cycle again.

Chronic Schistosomiasis Can Cause Long-Term Health Complications

Inside the human body, female worms grow into adults and lay eggs that migrate through the body for release in feces. The eggs of these worms can damage the intestines, bladder, and other organs. If a person does not receive treatment and the eggs stay in the body, he or she may eventually experience long-term problems, which include:

Bleeding of the bladder

Ulceration of the bladder

Liver damage

Eventual kidney failure

Cancer

Children with repeated infection can develop anemia, malnutrition, and learning disabilities.

Giant African Snails Might Cause Meningitis

Meningitis is the swelling of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It can be triggered by viruses, bacteria, or a fungal infection. Snails harboring a rat parasite called lungworm can lead to meningitis.

During the course of its natural life cycle, the lungworm shuttles between two creatures. In its adult phase, it burrows around in the lung of a rat. At some point, it produces larva that migrates to the feces of the rat. Snails, while grazing on leaves, eat the rat feces among other things. The larvae infect the snails, living in them until they are almost mature, at which point the snails are eaten by rats. The cycle of life begins all over again.

The parasite only gets passed on to humans when people eat uncooked snail meat.

Meningitis Causes Headaches, Numbness, And Spasms

Once consumed, the parasites eat their way to the central nervous system, where they eventually die. On ingesting a snail infected by the worms, which will eventually reach the brain, human beings can contract eosinophilic meningitis. Symptoms include headaches, numbness, spasms, and in the most serious cases – death.

Snail Meat From Unreliable Sources Should Be Avoided

Snails are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. So should you run a mile when served some? Not really. Snails served in restaurants are usually bred in captivity and/or purged extensively to remove toxins. Avoid eating them if the meat is from unreliable or dodgy sources. According to a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services entomologist, “Most of the infections and deaths from snail-transmitted diseases apparently come from eating raw or undercooked snails or ingesting slime residue left on fresh fruits and vegetables.” Do avoid eating uncooked snail meat or wild snails at all costs.8

Snails do have a bad reputation, but with adequate precautions, they can also continue to coexist safely in the aquatic environment. Improvement of sanitary facilities for safe disposal of human waste; provision of safe drinking water; reduction of contact with contaminated water; and snail control are some preventive measures to reduce the hazards snails pose.

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