And a Scoop of Breast Milk Ice Cream in a Cone, Please
Have you ever tasted breast milk? Would you be more likely to taste it if was swirled with vanilla pods, lemon zest, and frozen into an ice cream? I didn't think so. A London ice cream shop is hoping you will - they are serving their Baby Gaga flavour, made with donated breast milk at approximately $23 a scoop.
I've tasted breast milk.
After nursing two kids for almost two years each, the milk was around and I'm curious and not very squeamish. Also, I think it is important to taste what my kids eat so I tried a tiny bit. Not great, not horrible, not as bad as rice cereal with green beans.
But I wouldn't get the ice cream - that's a bit nasty. Not sure why cow's milk is less gross, but I guess it has to do with choosing to eat the output from animals and not humans.
The breast milk for the ice cream is being provided by women who answered an ad in an online forum. They are being screened and paid for their milk. One of the donors had an interesting take on the ice cream. She believes that if people tasted how delicious and sweet breast milk is, they would be more likely to breastfeed their own babies. Though she adds that it is nice to be paid for her "assets".
The faulty part of this logic is that people who are squeamish about breastfeeding are the least likely people to try the ice cream. I'm guessing that the whole thing is a publicity stunt - I'm sure that they are making the ice cream, but I doubt that very many people will try it. But they will talk about it (just as I am now).
In fact, the whole thing makes me angry. As a breastfeeding advocate, I don't like the idea of using breast milk as a stunt. Breast milk is delicious and extremely healthy for babies and it does have many uses and health benefits. Breast milk is not for making people gag, it is to make babies grow. We shouldn't be shuddering at the thought of it, it shouldn't be a joke; and it definitely should not be made into ice cream and sold for a few media hits.
Did you ever try breast milk? Do you think making ice cream out of breast milk popularizes or trivializes it? Do you think Baby Gaga will be a hot seller?
Want more? Last year I wrote In Praise of Mothers-in-law because I have an awesome mother-in-law. But I know some of you don't, so check out the comments.
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