In the 1980s, "Pomacea canaliculata" was introduced in Taiwan to start an escargot industry. It was thought that such food culture could provide valuable proteins for farmers, who primarily live on a rice diet. However, the snails did not become a culinary success. Additionally the imported snails (like the native apple snail population, "Pila") were able to transfer a parasite called "Angiostrongylus cantonensis" (rat lungworm). This parasite can infect humans if snails are eaten that have not been thoroughly cooked first.