PETA Global 2018 Issue 2

ITALL BOILS DOWN TO CRUELTY PETA Asia Exposes the ‘Ejiao’ Industry

Donkey: © Aneesh Sankarankutty

F ew people outside of China had ever heard of ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine – and even fewer realized that producing it causes donkeys to suffer – until PETA Asia’s campaign, launched with an eyewitness exposé, brought the cruel donkey-gelatin industry into public view. Now, more than 2 million people have viewed the video footage, which shows gentle donkeys crammed together in filthy pens – with nothing but green, algae contaminated water to drink – before being bashed in the head with sledgehammers so that their skin can be boiled down to make gelatin for ejiao. Some donkeys shown are so malnourished, injured, or ill that they can’t even walk. Many are still alive after their throats are cut, and they’re left to bleed out – twitching and gasping for air – in prolonged agony. One farm alone kills up to 100 donkeys this way every single day during the busy season. While ejiao is most commonly used by Chinese Medicine practitioners worldwide, manufacturers eager to cash in on unsubstantiated “health benefits” have more recently been adding it to everything from face creams and beauty masks to snacks, candies, and liqueurs. These products have shown up online and on the shelves of popular stores, where they’ve been sold to unsuspecting consumers. The harrowing exposé is reaching a new generation of consumers in China and around the world – and persuading them to reject products and medicines made from the skins of abused animals.

Look out for donkey gelatin (aka “donkey oil,” “donkey-skin gelatin,” and “ass-hide glue”) in:

A growing number of businesses have agreed to stop selling ejiao products since PETA informed them of the ingredient’s cruel production, including eBay, TK Maxx, Walmart-owned online retailer Jet.com, VitaminLife, Chef Masterpiece, Fresh Bites Basket, Good Price Appliances, Grocery Grove, Magical Chefs, and Stocked Farm. PETA Germany has persuaded two pharmacies, Die TCM Apotheke im GroßraumMünchen and Wallberg Apotheke TCM, and one wholesaler, China-Medica, to stop stocking ejiao. While ejiao is most commonly used by acupuncturists worldwide, manufacturers eager to cash in on unsubstantiated “health benefits” have more recently been adding it to everything from face creams and beauty masks to snacks, candies, and liqueurs.

ENERGY BARS

FACE CREAMS

Take Action Now Help save donkeys’ skins. If your acupuncturist uses ejiao, explain that donkeys are abused in

its production and why it shouldn’t be used. Please also politely ask your country’s Chinese ambassador to work to end the cruel exploitation and killing of donkeys for ejiao.

HERBAL TEAS

US readers: Ambassador Cui Tiankai 3505 International Pl. N.W. Washington, DC 20008 202-495-2266

Canadian readers: Ambassador Lu Shaye 515 St. Patrick St. Ottawa, ON K1N 5H3 613-789-3434

Global 23