Flesh-eating slug repellent

[redandgoldlion]

No: HPFGUIDX 47354

  Okay, I'm not very good at posting messages so please bear with me. 
I'm sure this topic has already been discussed, but I can't find it 
in the archives. If someone would point me in the direction of this 
discussion, I'll be very thankful.
  In CoS when Harry is in Knockturn Alley, he runs into Hagrid. Now 
when Harry asks Hagrid what he's doing there, Hagrid says something 
like,I'm getting flesh eating slug repellent because they slugs are 
ruining the school cabbages (sorry I can't site that, I don't have my 
book with me). I was wondering why *flesh* eating slugs would be 
eating *cabbages.* When I looked up "flesh" on dictionary.com it 
brought up: 

flesh    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (flsh)n. 

1) a.The soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate, covering the bones  
      and consisting mainly of skeletal muscle and fat. 
   b.The surface or skin of the human body. 
2)The meat of animals as distinguished from the edible tissue of fish 
  or fowl. 
3)Botany. The pulpy, usually edible part of a fruit or vegetable. 
4)Excess fatty tissue; plumpness. 
5)a.The body as opposed to the mind or soul. 
  b.The physical or carnal nature of humankind. 
  c.Sensual appetites. 
6.Humankind in general; humanity. 
7.One's family; kin. 
8.Substance; reality: "The maritime strategy has an all but 
  unstoppable institutional momentum behind it... that has given 
  force and flesh to the theory" (Jack Beatty). 

  I suppose Rowling could have meant, "The pulpy, usually edible part 
of a fruit or vegetable," but I somehow feel she meant us to think 
she was talking about animal flesh. 
  I don't know if Mrs. Rowling just hadn't thought about it, or if 
it's suppose to be a clue to some future plot. What was Hagrid 
*really* doing in Knockturn Alley? Chances are, I just grossly 
misinterpreted something. Please share your thoughts with me. :-)
    ~redandgoldlion~ (who wishes she had a Dave Barry quote to add)