China warns against eating nassarius snails

China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) issued a circular advising people not to eat toxic nassarius snails to avoid food poisoning on Monday.

CFDA said it is now a peak sales season for edible snails and the administration has recently found nassarius snails in some markets.

Eating nassarius snails can cause dizziness, nausea and numbness. In some cases, it can even lead to death. There is no effective medicine to cure nassarius snail poisoning, according to the administration.

China has made it clear in 2012 that it is illegal to sell nassarius snails.

Nassarius snails are widely distributed in the coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong. It has cuspate tails and a slim body. It is about 1 cm long and 0.5 cm wide.

The administration said it will step up market inspection. Meanwhile, it advised people not to purchase or eat nassarius snails. Once poisoned, the victim should see a doctor immediately.