Baby Gaga ice cream made from breast milk has been removed from a London restaurant for safety reasons following complaints.
The dessert went on sale last month at ice cream parlour Icecreamists in Covent Garden in February. It is churned using milk from 15 women who responded to an online advertisement.
The breast milk was expressed on site and pasteurised before being churned into ice cream with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest.
Icecreamists paid £15 pounds for every 10 ounces of breast milk and has already had 15 mothers become donors. Women undergo the same health checks used by the UK’s National Health Service to screen blood donors.
Breast milk ice cream, Baby Gaga, sold in Covent Garden
But Westminster Council removed the product from sale to check it was “fit for human consumption” after concerns were raised by the Health Protection Agency and Food Standards Agency.
Tory Westminster Councillor Brian Connell said: “Selling foodstuffs made from another person’s bodily fluids can lead to viruses being passed on and, in this case, potentially hepatitis.
“As the local authority we will support small businesses and applaud innovative ideas wherever possible, but must protect the health of consumers.”
Icecreamist founder Matt O’Connor said: “We have had an amazing response – many women have come forward and offer to give us milk.
“You can buy alcohol and tobacco but not breast milk in Westminster.
“If Westminster bans this then I am going to begin a protest with mums who have already shown support.”
