Authorities in China have had to issue a staunch denial that they were selling canned human meat to suppliers in Africa.
The government in China was forced to respond following reports from several African publications, repeating allegations in a Facebook post made by Barbara Akosua Aboagye which has been shared over 25,000 times in a short period.
The Independent report that publications even speculated that the reason the meat was being exported was due to China's huge overpopulation problem, suggesting the country can't locate space to bury their deceased to match the rate at which they are passing away.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming issued a statement on Chinese State Media, saying:
“Today a local tabloid newspaper is openly spreading a rumour, claiming that the Chinese use human meat to make corned beef and sell it to Africa.
“This is completely a malicious slandering and vilification which is absolutely unacceptable to us. We hereby express our utmost anger and the strongest condemnation over such an act.”
Chinese officials are concerned that rumours like this will strain the already weakening relationship between it and Africa in terms of trade.
