IntroductionThe objective was to determine the content of fatty acids in edible snail fat by snail species, collection site, and processing stage.Material and MethodsThe research material comprised 180 edible fat samples from the three genera of edible snails collected in Poland: free-living Helix pomatia (HP) and two cultivated Cornu subspecies: C. aspersa maxima (CAM) and C. aspersum aspersum (CAA). All snails came from the Greater Poland and Lower Silesian Provinces: HP from their natural habitat and CAM and CAA from heliciculture farms. The studies focused on the raw meat, cooked meat, and frozen meat processing stages. Fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined by the gas chromatography method.ResultsHelix pomatia fat showed a higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, whereas the fat of Cornu genus snails had a higher unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) component, i.e. monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Thermal processing of snail meat increased all the determined SFA and decreased all the PUFA values, and increased the content of C18:1, C20:1, and C22:1 acids in the MUFA group. The material collection site had limited impact on FA content as differences were noted only in levels of C18:1, C18:2 n6, and C20:5. The differences pertained only to the fat of farmed snails of the Cornu genus.ConclusionDue to the high content of UFA and a favourable ratio of n6:n3 acids and PUFA:SFA, snail fat can be regarded as nutritionally valuable.

This study aims to evaluate the microbiological status, pH, and water activity of European beaver meat to establish its shelf-life and microbiological safety. In this study, the microbiological profiles of meat and minced meat obtained from the carcasses of beavers were investigated. Microbial evaluation of the chilled meat was performed within 24 h after hunting, on the 7th day and 14th day, and the evaluation of the frozen meat was made during the 11th week of storage. Meat samples were analysed for total viable count (TVC), psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EBC), Escherichiacoli count (EC), total staphylococcal count (TSC), lactic acid bacteria count (LABC) and total yeast and mould counts (TYMC). Tests for the presence of pathogenic bacteria from the genus Salmonella and Listeria were also performed. Additionally, the pH and water activity were determined. The initial amount of TVC was 4.94 log CFU/g in meat samples and 4.80 log CFU/g in minced meat. After 14 days of storage, the TVC increased to 8.33 in meat samples and 8.08 log CFU/g in minced meat. Pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella were not found in the beaver meat tested. The microbiological state of meat stored frozen for 11 weeks was comparable to the state found in meat stored refrigerated for seven days regarding the number of microorganisms.

For many years Poland has been a highly recognized producer and supplier of Cornu aspersum (Cornu aspersum aspersum, Cornu aspersum maxima) and Helix pomatia snails in European markets. Exports include both live snails and snail-derived food products such as snail meat and eggs. Slime, used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, is another economically significant snail-derived product. This paper presents standardized terminology for farm snails and outlines regulations concerning snail farming, trade, processing plants and snail meat obtained. The current results of microbiological studies of snail meat obtained in Poland are shown as well. The analysis conducted in this paper indicates the need to clarify legislation, especially with regard to snail farming, and to elaborate regulations on snail meat processing....

The aim of the study was to analyze the results of sanitary and veterinary examinations of rabbits carried out by the Veterinary Inspectorate in slaughterhouses in Poland in 2010-2018. In this period, 8,980,660 rabbits were examined. Lesions and quality deviations were found in 42,779 carcasses, i.e. 0.48% of all carcasses examined. The most frequent causes of the rejection of the carcasses and internal organs of the rabbits examined were sepsis and pyaemia (36,369 cases), followed by excessive emaciation (1,686 cases), upper respiratory tract disease (1,655 cases), other causes not specified by name (1,438 cases), and coccidiosis (1,318 cases). Abnormal exsanguination (303), parasitic diseases other than coccidiosis (67), infectious diseases (14), and leukemia (2) were much less often the cause of rejection. During the period analyzed, there was a decrease in the number of cases of coccidiosis (except in 2017) and other parasitic diseases, but there was a several-fold increase in the occurrence of sepsis and pyaemia (in the years 2015-2018). Compared with the results of veterinary and sanitary examinations of rabbits in 2000-2010, there was an increase in the number of rabbits slaughtered and a reduction in the percentage of carcasses with pathological changes and carcasses deemed unfit for consumption. In the years 2010-2018, there was also an increase in the number of cases of sepsis and pyaemia and a significant decrease in the percentage of parasitic diseases (mainly coccidiosis).

IntroductionThe objective of the present research was to carry out a comparative assessment of copper, zinc, and selenium concentrations in the meat of edible land snails collected in Poland (Helix pomatia, Cornu aspersum maxima, and Cornu aspersum aspersum), as well as to determine the effect of preliminary processing of Roman snails (Helix pomatia) on the content of the aforementioned elements.Material and MethodsIn the first stage, determinations were made on unprocessed snail meat. In the second stage, the study focused on Roman snails and consisted in an additional evaluation of frozen meat after full processing. Zinc and copper contents were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and the selenium content was established by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.ResultsThe selenium content differed significantly among all three species. The copper content in Roman snails differed significantly from that in farmed snails. No significant difference in the zinc level was noted among the three snail species. The selenium content in raw and processed meat of Roman snails did not show any significant difference while the copper and zinc level was significantly higher in processed meat samples.ConclusionThe present research on the meat of edible snails showed different levels of selenium, copper, and zinc, depending on the species, collection site, and subjection to processing.