(The Icecreamists)
LONDON -- A London borough council confiscated breast milk ice cream being sold in a shop in the city's tourist district over fears it could contain hepatitis viruses and sent it for testing.
"Following two complaints from members of the public and concerns from the Health Protection Agency and Food Standards Agency, our officers visited the premises and removed all ice cream being sold as containing breast milk," council officer Brian Connell told the London Evening Standard newspaper Tuesday. "Selling foodstuffs made from another person's bodily fluids can lead to viruses being passed on and in this case, potentially hepatitis."
The ice cream, dubbed Baby Gaga by maker Icecreamists, is made by combining a liter of donated breast milk from a single woman with vanilla pods and lemon zest.
The shop's founder, 44-year-old Matt O'Connor, was outraged at the council's actions and claimed that he took "every possible precaution" when preparing the ice cream.
"Our donor was screened at a leading medical clinic, and then the ice cream mix is fully pasteurized. We have had a fantastic response, and 200 women have come forward and offer[ed] to give us milk," he said.
Lactating mothers are paid £15 ($24) for every 10 ounces of breast milk they supply for the ice cream and are required to undergo the same health checks used by the UK's National Health Service to screen blood donors.
O'Connor added that he would consider protesting if the council banned him from selling the ice cream.
Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more.