Hans Locher, the owner of Storchen Restaurant near the Winterthur resort in Switzerland stirred up quite a controversy when he placed ads in newspapers offering to pay for human breast milk. He offered donors €10 ($16) for a liter of milk.
He planned to incorporate human milk in various dishes such as breast milk lamb curry and antelope steak with chanterelle sauce with breast milk and cognac.
Locher said, "We have all been raised on it. Why should we not include it into our diet?"
He first tried cooking with human milk when his daughter arrived. He found that human milk is best mixed with whipped cream and constitutes 75% of the sauce. Initial feedback from blind taste tests by his friends was excellent.
Officials were initially stumped with a loophole in food regulations since the use of human breast milk is not included. They have now ruled that since human milk is not a regulated food, Locher cannot use it for human consumption because there are no guidelines for its freshness and storage.
Locher now faces potential lawsuits from Zurich’s food regulatory body and the Association of Swiss Milk Producers if he proceeds as planned, as do any prospective donors.
Serving Human Dairy
Swiss Restaurant Offers Breast Milk
Trend Themes
1. Alternative Ingredients in Cuisine - The controversy surrounding the use of human breast milk in restaurant dishes highlights the trend of chefs exploring alternative ingredients to create unique culinary experiences.
2. Regulatory Challenges in Food Industry - The lack of guidelines for the freshness and storage of human breast milk reveals a broader trend of regulatory challenges in the food industry as new and unconventional ingredients are introduced.
3. Ethical Considerations in Food Consumption - The debate over incorporating human breast milk into the diet raises questions about the ethical implications of consuming unconventional food sources.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant Industry - Restaurants can capitalize on the trend of alternative ingredients in cuisine by experimenting with unique and unconventional dishes that spark consumer interest and drive innovation.
2. Food Regulatory Bodies - The regulatory challenges posed by the use of human breast milk in food highlight the need for food regulatory bodies to adapt and create guidelines for emerging ingredients and food trends.
3. Milk Production Industry - The controversy surrounding the use of human breast milk in cuisine showcases potential opportunities for milk production industries to explore new markets and expand their offerings beyond traditional dairy products.