Snail farming for food (heliciculture) is growing globally; the welfare status of gastropods is uncertain but emerging evidence of nociception warrants precautionary humane treatment.
The moral status of snails is highly uncertain, but precautionary welfare principles suggest avoiding practices that would cause harm if snails do experience something like pain. Management practices that maintain appropriate environmental conditions, avoid injury during handling, and use rapid chilling before processing represent low-cost welfare improvements consistent with a cautious approach to invertebrate ethics.