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Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 1:07 pm ET
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PETA Asks Ben & Jerry's To Stop Using Cow's Milk and Start Using...

ben and jerry

human breast milk.

Uh, no thanks! And I don’t say that in a “Ew, breast milk is gross,” way. It’s a “I don’t want to be drinking another human’s breast milk” way. I’m well-versed in the ‘people shouldn’t drink animal milk’ debate that’s been raging the last several years. I have a few family members who feel that way and I respect their decision, I get it. I just don’t think it should be shoved down other people’s throats, so to speak.

Anyway, PETA’s current attention-mongering gimmick was apparently inspired by a Swiss restaurant that started using up to 75% human breast milk in their foods that use milk and cream (though I’ve since read that they’ve been ordered to stop, I can’t seem to find solid evidence of it yet). PETA feel that “a move to human breast milk would lessen the suffering of dairy cows and their babies on factory farms and benefit human health.”

I think someone didn’t do their homework, though. Doesn’t Ben & Jerry’s already use milk and cream from a local free-range farm, with rBGH-free cows anyway?

I liked Ben & Jerry’s spokesperson’s response, though: “We applaud PETA’s novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother’s milk is best used for her child.”

[image: flickr]

6 Comments

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  1. By sherry
    707 days ago

    I’m a huge breastfeeding support advocate and yet I’m also in the “oh hell no” camp on this one. I get the argument too, about how animals are meant to only drink their own milk but we also have to remember that the adult animals don’t drink milk or eat dairy products at all, so it’s kind of moot.

    No thanks!

    Reply

  2. By PETA To Ben & Jerry’s: ‘Show Us Your Tits!’
    707 days ago

    [...] juggernaut and part-time animal rights group PETA sent a letter to counterculture ice cream mavens Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield yesterday urging that the [...]

    Reply

  3. By Kisha
    709 days ago

    i am going to have to pass on that ice cream. LOL

    Reply

  4. By Peggy
    709 days ago

    I wrote about this on my personal blog too. I was amazed when I read the story.

    I could never eat a product made from human breast milk. Yuck.

    Reply

  5. By julo
    709 days ago

    And they’re diplomatic too. What’s not to like about B&J?

    Reply

  6. By shawn marie
    709 days ago

    Oh My! Ben and Jerry’s is one of the most responsible companies around. I, too, have read the argument that every animal- including humans- should only drink their own milk. Yet, I was not breast feed and I am fine. Also doesn’t it hurt the cows not to be milked? Don’t get me wrong I am all for humane and ethical treatment for all animals- so perhaps that is the best place to start, making sure those companies and farms who are not treating their cows well will. Of course PETA is doing that I am sure- I just think this request to Ben & Jerry’s is unwarranted- were they looking for an example?

    Viva la Ben and Jerry’s!!!

    Reply

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