# Red China Extracts Collagen From Executed Political Prisoners--Sold in the West **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581 "2005-09-14T12:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/21 "2005-09-21T15:37:16Z")
I actually don’t have any problem with this. Hopefully they took the hearts, lungs and corneas for transplants. And in Larry Niven’s world - people are scrapped for parts in a “vivarium” for capital crimes. But the need for organs is great so what do you think happens… The list of capital crimes is expanded greatly, things like running redlights. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/22 "2005-09-21T16:44:23Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Hopefully they took the hearts, lungs and corneas for transplants. [Sarcasm]I want the liver of the guy who stood in front of the tank in the square for my transplant. He had a lot of guts.[/Sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/23 "2005-09-22T01:15:00Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Assuming the Jello is really from cattle, I’d think there’s much less risk from Jello because the material is from a different species, and not all diseases can infect multiple species. IIRC, very few of them can. Spoilsport. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/24 "2005-09-23T23:28:34Z")
Commercial for Red Star Gelatin Guest: Hmm… that gelatin dessert was delicious! What’s the recipe? Ms. Wu: Ancient Chinese secret! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/25 "2005-09-24T01:02:13Z")
Interesting…the story says that a Chinese physician claimed to have removed the skin of a “shot” prisoner while the prisoner’s “heart was still beating.” In China, such an execution involves a hollow-point 7.62mm rifle bullet to the head, at fairly close range. I’ve seen pictures. Judging by the results, even if their heart WAS still beating, I don’t think there was any risk of the prisoner suffering. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581/26 "2005-09-24T03:34:04Z")
I know the Guardian, if it’s the same one I’m acquainted with, is a usually reliable source but I’m suspicious of this one. What was this “investigation” they wrote about? Are Guardian reps allowed free access in China to look into things? Stories like this have been circulated for millenia, even about ancient Egyptians, by their enemies for venal purposes. I suspect the domestic cosmetics industry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-china-extracts-collagen-from-executed-political-prisoners-sold-in-the-west/321581.md?page=1)