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Sick, dead turtle bones sold to TCM markets
Shanghai Daily, December 18, 2013
Nearly 40 tons of shells and bones of sick and dead soft-shelled turtles have been sold to traditional Chinese medicine markets in eastern and southern China.
The turtle bones are used in TCM medicines for nourishing energy, especially for liver and kidney, and to improve the immunity system. But bones of sick and dead turtles can pose great health risks.
Police in Pinghu and Haining cities in the Zhejiang Province detained 16 suspects during a crackdown on illegal sales and dealing in poor quality turtle bones.
Investigation found they had sold nearly 40 tons of illegal turtle bones in Anhui, Zhejiang and Hainan provinces, but police could only manage to recover 8 tons.
Tests revealed they contained malignant bacteria.
Soft-shelled turtle feeders in Haining admitted it was a common practice to sell bones after turtle died and its bodies decayed.
