Chinese social media erupts in debate over donkey-hide gelatin

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Social media has been a breeding ground for a range of debates, from the serious to the ridiculous. During the Spring Festival, China's social networks took to the topic of donkey-hide gelatin, or ejiao as known in China.

On February 18, the Weibo account "12320 Health Hotline" published a list of things that they deemed not worthy of buying during the Chinese New Year. Going against the thinking of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, it said that ejiao is nothing more than "boiled donkey skin."

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) claims that ejiao can be used to treat a variety of conditions including bleeding, dizziness, insomnia and even some types of cancers.

12320 Health Hotline's post. /Weibo Photo

And in true social media fashion, the post spurred heated arguments among TCM groups. Some argued that one of the main components of donkey skin is collagen, believed to have health benefits.

The "boiled donkey skin" post was later deleted from the 12320 Health Hotline Weibo page.

12320 Health Hotline is a secondary agency belonging to the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission. It mainly consults and reports public health complaints.

However, many interpreted this as an official statement. Even some financial analysts said the "official opinion" may affect China's gelatin industry. The companies involved in this turmoil, such as Dong Yajiao has not responded.

Hand-made Ejiao. /VCG Photo