London ice-cream parlor sells breast milk concoction called “Baby Gaga”
A notice informing customers that ‘Baby Gaga breast milk ice cream’ has sold out is pictured in the window of the Icecreamists cafe in central London, on Feb. 25, 2011. Ice cream made with breast milk has proved a big hit in a London restaurant, with the first batch sold out within days of it going on sale, its makers said Friday. The ice cream, called Baby Gaga, is made with milk expressed by 15 women who replied to an advertisement posted on an online mothers’ forum.
A London ice-cream parlor is reportedly offering lactating women 15 pounds sterling ($24) for ten ounces of breast milk, a key ingredient in their new dessert, Baby Gaga breast milk ice cream.
The Madagascan vanilla and lemon concoction, served in a martini glass with a rusk (zwieback toast) on the side, for 14 pounds (roughly $22), is reportedly a huge hit with Londoners.
This week, the shop, the Icecreamists, in Covent Garden, posted a sign in its window telling customers they had sold out of it.
The women donating the breast milk are asked to submit to blood testing, for safety and hygiene reasons, according to the Metro newspaper.
The first donor, Victoria Hiley, provided the first 30 fluid ounces of milk which was enough to make the first 50 servings, according to the Daily Mail. After tasting the ice cream made from her breast milk, she reported: “It melts in the mouth.”
Another 13 women have volunteered to donate their breast milk.
Last year, Manhattan chef Daniel Angerer offered Americans cheese made from his wife's breast milk, but the health department asked him to take it off the menu at his Klee Brasserie restaurant.
Icecreamists owner Matt O'Connor, 44, told the BBC: "It's the most beautiful thing …It's organic. It's free-range. It's totally natural."
A costumed "Baby Gaga" waitress serves the ice cream, which includes liquid nitrogen poured through a syringe. It can be served with whisky or another cocktail on request.
A mother-of-one, Victoria, to the Daily Mail: "I saw the advert offering to pay women to donate breast milk on a forum and it made me laugh. There were so many comments and people were having a debate on whether it could be genuine. So I thought I'd find out."
A Time report has this story listed under “Things We Wish Didn’t Exist.”
— Freya Petersen
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