After all, we consume cow’s milk, goat’s milk, and sheep’s milk without a second thought, and even almond or coconut milk. So why does the idea of human milk shock us?
Vanilla, chocolate, pistachio… and breast milk? Yes, you read that right. In the sometimes quirky world of gastronomy, one unusual flavor has already made waves: breast milk ice cream. A taboo for some and a curiosity for others, it raises a real question: How far are we willing to go when it comes to “natural” food?
Breast Milk Ice Cream: A Shocking Experiment
In 2011, a London ice cream shop launched the now-famous “Baby Gaga,” made using donated breast milk. The result:
- endless lines,
- global media coverage,
- and a swift ban by health authorities.
But the idea was out there: what if breast milk could be just another “flavor”?
Why Does It Make Us Uncomfortable?
We drink cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk without hesitation, as well as almond or coconut milk. So why does human milk feel different? Likely because breast milk is closely associated with:
- motherhood
- intimacy
- childhood
Turning it into ice cream feels like mixing something sacred with something indulgent.
But What Does It Taste Like?
Those who have tried it describe breast milk as sweet, mild, and slightly vanilla-like. Fun fact: its flavor varies depending on the mother’s diet. A parent who eats a lot of carrots, vanilla, or spices can directly influence the taste of their milk. In other words, breast milk ice cream could offer a wider range of flavors than anything on the Ben & Jerry’s menu.
A Superfood, but Not for Everyone
Rich in nutrients, antibodies, and natural sugars, breast milk is a superfood for babies. But for adults, experts urge caution. If collected without strict sanitary controls, it can transmit bacteria or viruses. This is one of the reasons “Baby Gaga” was ultimately pulled from sale.
Historically, however, breast milk was sometimes consumed by adults as a remedy or nutritional supplement. In the Middle Ages, some European physicians recommended human milk to strengthen the sick or frail. In other cultures, it was given to elderly or ill individuals for its nourishing and digestive properties. Unlike today, consuming breast milk was not considered shocking or taboo, but rather a functional and culturally accepted practice tied to medical beliefs of the time.
Taboo or Trend?
Breast milk ice cream sparks an important cultural conversation. In some societies, consuming breast milk is not shocking at all. In others, it is unthinkable. In the end, our reaction may say more about our taboos than about the milk itself.
At Iris + Arlo, we like to open conversations around topics often surrounded by silence or discomfort, like menstruation, long considered a “shameful” subject. Breast milk ice cream, as surprising as it may be, fits into the same logic. Why do some natural, universal, and deeply human experiences become taboo?
Deconstructing these taboos, whether on our plates or in our lives, is a way to learn to look differently at what once felt “strange” or “uncomfortable.”
So tell us… would you dare order a scoop of “breast milk” between two scoops of vanilla and chocolate?
