Three people in China had to be hospitalised after they ate sheep placenta for “nutritious” purposes, sparking an online discussion about the custom.
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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.
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It is believed to strengthen the immune system, treat fatigue, infertility and a lack of energy.
