Hialeah man investigated over feeding Giant African Snails to followers David Ovalle Published 11:014 p.m. Mar 10, 2010 Updated 9:34 p.m. ET Mar 31, 2012
...Federal authorities began their probe in Nov after receiving complaints that the so-called
`healing' practice
`isn't an accepted practice of the Santería religion,' and worshipers were falling ill after drinking the snail mucus... ...The snail ritual was supposed to cure worshipers with medical problems... ...Consuming snail mucus or eating snail meat as part of a Santería ritual is ``unheard-of,' said prominent Santería priest Ernesto Pichardo, who prevailed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 to get the religion officially recognized... ``I'd never seen that kind of snail in my lifetime -- anywhere I have practiced this religion,' said Pichardo, who was panelist on the [Miami] MegaTV show. Small snails bought at pet supply stores are sometimes used in Santería rituals, their bodies pulverized and combined with herbs to make a medicinal bath, he said. ``I've never heard of any ritual where you drink the snail water,' Pichardo said. [Charles L.] Stewart insisted his religion is traditional to Africa, and should not be confused with Santería. ``What I practice is somewhat different, and that's what caused the backlash against me,' he said...
