05-27-2011, 01:58 PM
It is a common myth here among people I know that rinsing leafy greens in things like vinegar water, alkaline water, salt water or distilled water will keep you safe. None of these have been demonstrated to kill the nematode which lives inside slugs and snails. They can kill the slugs but the lungworm lives inside. It may be that the slime keeps the solution from penetrating. The microscopic lungworm can live in baby slugs and snails which are only 2 mm in length and, therefore, very hard to see. The lungworm will then grow up to 1 inch long in the human body.
The only way to be completely safe from this parasite is by not eating raw vegetables, especially leafy greens grown in Hawaii. Or to reduce your risk, all leaves should be very carefully inspected while washing.
The only way to be completely safe from this parasite is by not eating raw vegetables, especially leafy greens grown in Hawaii. Or to reduce your risk, all leaves should be very carefully inspected while washing.