I Scream, You Scream
Posted on September 25th, 2008 – 9:39 AMBy Kay Krhin
I think we’d ALL scream if we read the ingredients on our pint of Ben & Jerry’s and saw “Human Breast Milk” on the list.
But this week PETA sent out a note encouraging Ben & Jerry’s to use human breast milk instead of cow’s milk in their ice cream.
I had to check my calendar when I heard this tidbit from a co-worker. Was it April 1st? News of the wierd? An article from the Onion?
But it’s true. Read more here.
Gag factor aside. That stuff is gold. You’d have to keep it in a freezer in Fort Knox for all the effort it takes to get a few ounces!
As you know, Ben & Jerry are famous for their clever flavor names.
My co-workers and I started imagining what names they would use if they were to add that special ingredient.
“Nipple Ripple? ”
Another deadpanned “Cherry-ola?”
Now I’m not lactate intolerant, I nursed both my babies. But good luck marketing those pints.
You’ll be glad to know Ben & Jerry politely declined their request and thanked them for their concern.
14 Responses to "I Scream, You Scream"
I was a dedicated nurser with my first and I expect to nurse the incoming baby for close to a year. I’m very liberated about nursing in public places, etc. But there’s no way in the world I would eat ice cream made with human milk. Not mine, not anyone’s. To each his own, I say, but this one is distinctly not for me. Bless PETA for the work they do, but there are limits, you know?
I think the full B & J response was the best retort ever.
I understand the concern for the cows, but I think they went the wrong direction on this one. Especially given how much misinformation and misunderstanding there is about breastfeeding.
I am pro breast milk all the way. I was an epic producer of the stuff and gave bags and bags away to moms who had limited production.
But at the end of the day, I don’t think I could get past the idea it’s a human excretion. (Of course, I’m happy to eat cow excretion? Hmmm.)
The flavor name I heard was booberry. It seems pretty clear that it’s just a stunt by PETA, there’s no way anyone would ever be able to sell (or afford to buy) it. It does remind me of a Dan Savage column that I read a really long time ago about whether you could make cheese with human breast milk. Well, of course you *can*. But according to a cheesemaker that Dan talked with, human breast milk takes on a lot of flavors from the foods that we eat, and most people probably wouldn’t like the slightly garlicy / oniony flavor that a lot of women’s milk would have (not that Zoe ever seemed to mind).
They can’t really be serious…???
I vote for Nipple Ripple!
Good Lord…this is one of those times when all I can do is shake my head…and, the thought makes my stomach turn…why ruin a good thing…(I know they can’t be serious, but even the thought is disturbing).
Okay, that’s funny. Of course as a nursing mom I get an extra chuckle out of it. It is so strange for me to drink cow’s milk now when I think of it as breast milk for baby cows… the fact we consider that “normal” to ingest from another species is very strange if you think of it that way.
Did you know that the baby cows don’t get to drink their mother’s milk - they get ‘milk replacement.’ Isn’t that sad?
I’ve also heard that athletes and some cancer patients buy breast milk online for the benefits. It would probably taste better as ice cream.
(i’m not that crunchy - I had a big glass of milk at dinner tonight. from a cow.)
Maybe PETA folks could set up a one-of-a kind ice cream parlor (say like an Izzy’s or Grand Ole Creamery) featuring human breast milk ice cream, shakes, etc?
I believe PETA is a great organization who is genuinely concerned for the well being of animals. But this suggestion is more than just a little twisted. Are the PETA women going to be the ones who so graciously donate their personal breast milk to the laboratories who have to run hundreds upon thousands of tests on this new product so it passes the U.S. Standards for food safety?? My guess is NO. Humans cannot possibly produce the amount of milk a cow can. Besides, I personally believe Noah was told to put these animals on the ark so they could provide for the human race. (Amen)
Has PETA ever considered how much milk it takes to make a gallon of ice cream? Have they considered how long it takes to pump just 8 oz of breast milk? I breast fed and pumped for my babies.
I grew up on a dairy farm and cows are my favorite animal. I guarantee they are not hating being milked or is it harmful or cruel to them.
I fell off my chair laughing at this one! I sure hope (sadly) PETA was just trying to get some media attention with this one. If not, I lost what little respect I had for the organization.
I’m not prone to consume my own breastmilk - but I do think it’s interesting that so many people think that the thought is stomach-churning yet we happily consume milk from a cow.
First of all, I don’t find human milk to be gag-worthy. I do, however, find it ironic that people are so disgusted by breastmilk, yet they happily consume cow’s milk, intended for baby cows who are drinking…formula.
The real problem I see with PETAs proposal (outside of the shock factor) is that some women would forego nursing their own baby in order to make money selling their milk.
None the less- I like Ann’s Booberry suggestion. 
HHHMMM, makes me wonder if they’d rename “Chubby Hubby.”
“I’m not prone to consume my own breastmilk - but I do think it’s interesting that so many people think that the thought is stomach-churning yet we happily consume milk from a cow.”
I so agree. PETA’s point was to make people think- why is it ok for human’s to drink milk intended for baby cows? How is it collected, and why should baby cows have to do without healthy milk that is made just for them?
I hope it made you all think.
