Millions of donkeys are killed and skinned annually for the "gelatina nigra" used in dietary supplements alone. The animal by-product is most generally known as ejiao, or donkey-hide gelatin, and is derived from the skin of donkeys.
A 2019 research by the advocacy group Donkey Sanctuary claims that the rising demand for the product, which is said to have health advantages, is driving inhumane treatment of donkeys throughout the world. The group captured footage of employees in Tanzania beating donkeys with hammers to kill them to satisfy their daily slaughter quotas.
Sadly, products that contain donkey skins may be found being sold on the giant tech e-commerce, Amazon.
But how could Amazon possibly offer something so cruel?
Lawsuit Over Donkeys
Several stores, including Walmart and eBay, have said they would cease selling goods containing ejiao. However, in a report by Wired, Amazon continues to offer a variety of food items that include the substance despite receiving many requests to do otherwise.
The Center for Contemporary Equine Studies filed a lawsuit against Amazon in California last week, claiming that the company's continuous selling of donkey-based items is more than offensive. The group claims that the Prohibition of Horse Slaughter and Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption Act, a California animal welfare legislation, is violated by Amazon's distribution and sale of ejiao.
According to Frank Rothschild, director of the Center for Contemporary Equine Studies, ejiao for human use is unlawful in California since donkeys are equines.
Attorney Bruce Wagman, who has been practicing animal law in California for 18 years and is unconnected with the case, says that although the center makes a compelling argument, it is uncertain if a court would agree because of the legislation's ambiguous phrasing. He claims that the definition of "horsemeat" is not included in the actual text of the applicable law.
The complainant is demanding that Amazon immediately cease distributions and sales of ejiao. A court may potentially impose a punishment of $1 million per day on Amazon for each transaction that occurs in California if the company is found to be in breach of the law.
Donkey-based Amazon Products
Wired scraped more than a thousand Amazon product search results using phrases like "ejiao," "donkey hide," and "ass hide" to verify the center's allegations. They identified at least 15 food products labeled as containing donkeys. Chinese Special Snack Seedless, Ass Hide Glue Lumps, and Ejiao Slice were just a few of the titles for these goods.
Overall, it was discovered that every item was offered by a third party. Nevertheless, at least four were in stock and could be sent immediately from Amazon's facilities.
It is likely that ejiao distribution, if unlawful, has snuck past Amazon's content control despite the company's policy against selling illicit or restricted items.
