The Chinese government has had to issue a statement denying they have been selling human meat to Africa, after several rumours have been circulating saying the country has been shipping over human flesh packaged as ‘corned beef’.

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A few African publications reported on the allegations that were originally made by Facebook user Barbara Akosua Aboagye in a post which has gone viral. The images show an abattoir and what looks like two butchers with a dead, skinned human lying on the work table. Check it out below, although don’t click if you’re particularly squeamish:

South African online publications Msanzi Live and Daily Post said that the reason behind China exporting human meat is due to their over population problems and the fact that there’s no room left to bury the dead. Pretty mental accusations to make and the Chinese government thought so too as they issued this statement:

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.

Yeah, I mean that is a pretty outlandish thing to accuse a country of doing. The Chinese government sound pretty pissed about it as well don’t they? Could this be the start of a mega-war between a country and an entire continent? If so, I’m dipping out to fly off to Mars because I reckon that fight could end in the destruction of our planet as we know it.

Whether the allegations are true or not, Zambia, where the meat has been going to, is launching an investigation so we’re going to find out soon enough. We’ll keep you posted.

It wouldn’t be the first time China has used gross replacements in food – check out what this company was using in its soy sauce recipe.