A journalist who advertised her own breast milk for sale online as part of an investigation into the growing market has revealed she was left in tears when an unexpected buyer came to collect it. Alev Scott, based in Somerset, embarked on this exploration after the birth of her first child, when she found herself producing more milk than her baby required.
Investigating the Online Breast Milk Marketplace
While researching how other mothers handle excess breast milk, Alev stumbled upon a little-known online platform where women can sell, buy, or donate breast milk. "I discovered this commercial market online," she explained to The i newspaper. "It really made me ask myself: 'How do I feel about the concept of selling my milk, or about other women selling theirs?'"
In the United Kingdom, mothers have the option to donate milk to hospital-run milk banks, but Alev found this process to be lengthy and strict, involving multiple screenings and checks. Not all offered milk is accepted, leading some women to seek alternative avenues.
The Platform and Its Ethical Implications
As part of her research, Alev created a seller profile on ONLYTHEBREAST.com, a platform used in both the UK and the US that connects women with those seeking natural breast milk. By posing as a seller, she aimed to examine the ethics and practical realities behind the trade in human milk.
"There's this very unique position that breast milk holds, certainly in the UK and US," she noted. "It's a bodily fluid that is legal to sell because it's classed as a food."
Although regulators such as the UK Food Standards Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration do not endorse the commercial sale of breast milk, the trade itself remains largely unregulated. Prices can vary significantly, with factors like freshness, the seller's diet, and even her age influencing costs. Alev found that a litre of milk typically sells for between £30 and £50.
Surprising Buyer Demographics and Wellness Claims
During her investigation, Alev discovered that while some buyers were parents unable to access donated milk through official channels, many were not. She stated, "The majority of customers are men… I did not expect that."
Breast milk has gained popularity within certain segments of the wellness industry, where it is sometimes promoted for its supposed health benefits. Alev wrote, "The colostrum that women produce in the first days postpartum as well as the later milk itself is often touted as 'liquid gold' - not just for babies but for adults convinced that its elixir-like properties extend beyond infancy. Bodybuilders buy colostrum and breast milk, as do cancer survivors, and those who suffer from digestive complaints like IBS."
However, it is important to note that there is little scientific evidence to support claims that breast milk offers health benefits for adults.
The Emotional Handover and Its Impact
Although Alev never intended to sell her milk for profit, she agreed to provide some to a buyer in exchange for an interview about his reasons for purchasing it. The buyer, identified as Steve, was a 60-year-old lorry driver who claimed to suffer from severe IBS and believed breast milk alleviated his symptoms.
But Alev later expressed doubts, writing, "I was becoming increasingly convinced that IBS was an excuse for a lonely man to get himself some emotional nourishment."
When she handed over the frozen milk she had expressed, the moment carried an emotional weight she had not anticipated. "I felt like crying. I was giving away my child's milk, my life force," she recounted.
Calls for Greater Scrutiny and Regulation
Alev believes this experience underscores the urgent need for greater scrutiny of the largely unregulated breast milk trade. She argued, "Generally, governments seem to either turn a blind eye to the breastmilk market or ban it. Everyone needs to consider this because otherwise the change that we need is not going to happen."
Her findings are detailed in her book, Cash Cow: How the Maternal Body Became a Global Commodity - and the Hidden Costs for Women, which is now available for purchase.
