text: Second in popularity only to the escargot for edible snails , the `` meat '' of the conch is used as food , either eaten raw , as in salads , or cooked , as in fritters , chowders , gumbos , and burgers .
simplified: The animal inside the shell is eaten , either raw , as in salads , or cooked , as in fritters , chowders , gumbos , and burgers .