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Human fetuses are gaining popularity as a health food item across the border in the southern Chinese boomtown of Shenzhen, a local newspaper reported Wednesday. The Eastern Express reported that its sister publication, Eastweek magazine, conducted an investigation recently and found that fetuses were being eaten for reasons such as improving one's complexion and treating asthma. A Hong Kong-based doctor surnamed Wong, who practices western medicine, scoffed at the myth that fetuses are highly nutritious, saying they contain mucopoly-saccharide, which is beneficial to metabolism, but those nutrients also can be found in a lot of other foods, the report said. But fetus aficionados in China claimed they are delicacies which can be made into stews or soups, combined with ginger, orange peel and pork. Human embryos are believed to have more health benefits than eating placentas, they said. One mainland doctor said fetuses can be ingredients in meat cakes simply by adding minced meat. But, she warned, more ginger and chives would need to be added to get rid of the smell, a problem many people have with fetuses. The doctor, Zou Qin of the Luo Hu Clinic, explained that "people normally prefer (fetuses of) young women, and even better, the first baby and a male." The specimens can be purchased at Shenzhen hospitals and clinics, which carry out extensive abortion services because of China's birth control policy which limits families to one child in the cities and two in rural areas. Last year, for example, doctors in the People's Hospital -- Shenzhen's biggest -- performed more than 7,000 abortions, the newspaper reported. The going rate for a fetus is about $1.28 (10 Hong Kong dollars), but when the merchandise was in short supply, the prices allegedly could rise to $2.56 (20 Hong Kong dollars), the investigative reporters found. One private clinic charged as much as $38 (300 Hong Kong dollars) per fetus. Zou defended the delicacy, while other proponents like her tout the embryos as food supplements to strengthen one's body and improve one's kidneys. "They are wasted if we don't eat them," Zou said. "The women who receive the abortions here don't want the fetuses. Also, the fetuses are already dead (when we eat them). We don't carry out abortions just to eat the fetuses." Dr. Margaret Kwan, a gynecologist who until two weeks ago held the post of chief executive of the Hong Kong Family Planning Association, told the newspaper the reports were "the strangest thing I have ever heard coming out of China. I just hope it is not true."

(cite provided by snopes)