China trio diagnosed with bacterial infection after eating ‘nutritious’ cooked sheep placenta
Traditional belief that afterbirth can cure range of ailments, address infertility should be ‘ditched’, say online observers
Three people in China had to be hospitalised after they ate sheep placenta for “nutritious” purposes, sparking an online discussion about the custom.
A woman, surnamed Zhang, in southern China’s Guangdong province was reported to have developed frequent fevers and lost 5kg in weight over a short period after she cooked the “dish”.
She went to hospital and was diagnosed with brucellosis, a type of bacterial infection spread from animals to humans.
Zhang’s sister and brother-in-law were diagnosed with the same disease after eating the “tonic”.
The placenta is an organ that forms in the uterus during pregnancy and is considered a highly nutritious ingredient in China.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the placenta is known as ziheche.
It is believed to strengthen the immune system, treat fatigue, infertility and a lack of energy.
