A content creator in the Philippines has gone viral for eating buko, a type of snail found in trees. While some netizens express concern about its safety, the vlogger assures that thorough cleaning and cooking methods ensure its edibility.
A content creator has gone viral for eating buko, a type of snail found in trees and cooked adobo-style in Sorsogon. Is it safe to eat? In a recent episode of “Dami Mong Alam, Kuya Kim!”, vlogger Cecille Escullar, who specializes in hunting and consuming buko (bigger than the typical snail), was featured. Escullar, a native of Sorsogon, shared, “I grew up here in Sorsogon. I’ve always known that there’s buko in our area and that it has been eaten for a long time.
The people who consume it here usually enjoy it as pulutan.” Initially, Escullar didn’t eat snails because she found them repulsive. But after trying it, she discovered that buko is chewy and tender. Escullar, a former teacher, started vlogging to improve the state of the daycare center in her area. Eventually, it became her full-time job, and she focused on showcasing various foods and destinations in her province. Even on the roadside near bodies of water, Escullar finds buko while traveling to the forest. Kuya Kim explained that many snails emerge during the rainy season because it is a threat to snails and slugs to dry out. They prefer the wet season because they don’t need much energy to produce mucus. Snails are also more active when the weather is humid. During the dry season or drought season, they hibernate and wait for the next rainy season.Netizens have diverse reactions to Escullar’s snail hunting and consumption. Some claim it is poisonous and unsafe to eat. However, Escullar dismisses these concerns, stating that she thoroughly cleans, rinses, boils, and cleanses the snails again before finally cooking them. According to Escullar, she no longer adds water to the snails because they possess their own “saliva” that cooks them. She also places the snails in salted water, vinegar, or salt to remove their slime. Kuya Kim explained that snail mucin, the slime produced by snails, acts as glue when they climb trees or walls. It is also their trail to find other snails. Snail mucin is also a popular beauty trend in cosmetics and skincare products. Meanwhile, Escullar crushes the hard part of the snail, called the radula, which serves as their tongue. Snails have thousands of teeth, but they are not like human teeth. According to food safety officer Russel Ray Teng, it is safer to eat snails in the provinces because they are cleaner compared to Manila, which is more polluted.Teng explained, “In general, terrestrial snails are safer. But in their area, they mainly eat leaves. But here in Manila, sometimes there are rats, and they produce feces. These feces are sometimes eaten by snails. So, these snails will carry what we call rat lungworm. If a person eats it, they will get parasites inside and may possibly develop meningitis.” Teng reminded everyone to thoroughly clean any snails before eating them
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