# Why is it taboo for anyone older than a baby to drink breastmilk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667 "2003-02-04T07:02:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/1 "2003-02-04T07:02:06Z")
I’ve always wondered this- and I never got a straight answer because nobody ever too me seriously about it :mad: . In movies, and urban legends, it seems like someone who accidentally drinks breastmilk spits it out in alarm as though it were poison or something. I think this is silly- If anything, I would imagine it would be more nutritious for people than cow milk. ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/2 "2003-02-04T07:33:29Z")
They’ve just banned it up the road from here… [http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/799/class000100004/hwz110883.htm](http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/799/class000100004/hwz110883.htm) Spoilsports. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/3 "2003-02-04T07:42:39Z")
Favorite curse I’ve ever heard: “Mother’s milk in a cup!” ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/4 "2003-02-04T09:02:13Z")
There is no reason why anyone who can drink cows’ milk cannot drink human breastmilk. Human milk happens to be much higher in lactose (milk sugar) than cows’ milk, and the majority of the world’s adults are lactose intolerant, and therefore should avoid any milk. Another key part of that standard “But that’s my breastmilk!” spit-take is that the unwitting drinker doesn’t know until someone speaks up. Not real likely. All that lactose makes breastmilk taste sweeeeeet. (Ever wonder why little kids have such a sweet tooth? Maybe it’s because nature made them crave all that yummy sweet mommy juice.) It also contains much less protein than cows’ milk, which makes it feel “thinner” somehow though the fat content is about the same as whole milk. I’d expect that if your mouth is all set for cows’ milk, the experience of drinking breastmilk instead would be an unpleasant surprise. For what it’s worth, the joke falls flat in Norway, where nearly every mother breastfeeds her infant. So the taboo is not universal. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/5 "2003-02-04T09:12:28Z")
I was shopping in Sainsbury’s once and I had to do a double-take at a row of milk cartons on the shelf; I could have sworn they were labelled ‘Breast Milk’. On closer examination, it turned out to be ‘Breakfast Milk’ (same as ‘gold top’ - extra creamy milk from Jersey cows. [TMI ALERT]In my usual spirit of wanting to taste new things, I asked my wife if she would let me try human milk; she consented, but sadly she had big problems breastfeeding our kids in both cases so it just wasn’t possible (and I don’t fancy anyone else’s)[/tmi] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/6 "2003-02-04T12:07:40Z")
There isn’t any fundamental reason I know of – it’s probably a cultural taboo. But kids have been breast-fed until they were surprisingly old. (See Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie **The Last Emperor** , which caused a mild sensation when it came out. I’ve heard of other cases.) Look up “Roman Charity” on your search engine. And you have to mention Piers Anthony’s short story “In the Barn” (it’s in one of the Dangerous Visions anthologies, as well as in one of Anthony’s own short story collections) about a parallel Earth in which some humans are specially bred as “milkers”. People there can’t stomach the idea of drinking milk from cows. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/7 "2003-02-04T12:23:46Z")
Of course, most humans don’t have the opportunity. Nor is it really convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/8 "2003-02-04T12:48:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*And you have to mention Piers Anthony’s short story “In the Barn” (it’s in one of the Dangerous Visions anthologies, as well as in one of Anthony’s own short story collections) about a parallel Earth in which some humans are specially bred as “milkers”. People there can’t stomach the idea of drinking milk from cows. \*\* I thought it was that in the parallel Earth, there are no large mammals beside humans. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/9 "2003-02-04T12:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought it was that in the parallel Earth, there are no large mammals beside humans. Been a while since I read it, but I could swear that at one point one of the “herders” expresses contempt at the thought of non-human milk. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/10 "2003-02-04T13:09:41Z")
Piers Anthony, _In the Barn_ > [@](#): > > We’re very fortunate to have developed this system. Can you imagine using actual filthy _beasts_ for farming? No cigars for **Mangetout** _or_ **CalMeecham**. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/11 "2003-02-04T13:11:17Z")
(I’m holding a first edition of _Again, Dangerous Visions_ in my hand right now) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/12 "2003-02-04T13:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > ## Piers Anthony, In the Barn quote: > > ## We’re very fortunate to have developed this system. Can you imagine using actual filthy beasts for farming? > > No cigars for Mangetout or CalMeecham. Why not? Seems I earned my cigar (not that I smoke). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/13 "2003-02-04T13:22:59Z")
I’m sure if you read the story, there is much mention made of the fact that all large mammals except humans are extinct on the parallel world. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/14 "2003-02-04T13:27:36Z")
Apologies and cigars to both. > [@](#): > > There were no bears on #772, no camels, no horses, sheep or dogs. No cats or pigs. Few rodents. Man, in fact, was about the only mammal that remained… Barns were everywhere, and milk was a staple industry - yet there were no cows or goats or similar domesticants. > > That was why he now stood before this barn. Within it must lie the secret to #772’s sinister success. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/15 "2003-02-04T13:32:20Z")
So I guess the “filthy beasts” remark was a case of making a virtue of a necessity. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/16 "2003-02-04T14:26:39Z")
Fine you all get cigars except **Cal** (_you get a candy bar_). Oh and **Cal** with regards to your _The last Emperor_ reference. > [@](#): > > “A nice fantasy, gentle yet intriguing. I like the notion of a prince facing a coming-of-age initiation that is as simple as a walk in a garden, and as complicated as the interactions of gods and men.” —Piers Anthony I have a copy of some of his work as well… ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/17 "2003-02-04T14:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flodnak \* > \*\*There is no reason why anyone who can drink cows’ milk cannot drink human breastmilk. Human milk happens to be much higher in lactose (milk sugar) than cows’ milk, and the majority of the world’s adults are lactose intolerant, and therefore should avoid any milk. > > Another key part of that standard “But that’s my breastmilk!” spit-take is that the unwitting drinker doesn’t know until someone speaks up. Not real likely. All that lactose makes breastmilk taste sweeeeeet. (Ever wonder why little kids have such a sweet tooth? Maybe it’s because nature made them crave all that yummy sweet mommy juice.) It also contains much less protein than cows’ milk, which makes it feel “thinner” somehow though the fat content is about the same as whole milk. I’d expect that if your mouth is all set for cows’ milk, the experience of drinking breastmilk instead would be an unpleasant surprise. > > For what it’s worth, the joke falls flat in Norway, where nearly every mother breastfeeds her infant. So the taboo is not universal. \*\* Sounds like breastmilk would make good coffee creamer. ---
**Author:** ![rhinostylee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@rhinostylee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinostylee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/18 "2003-02-04T14:58:42Z")
It is taboo because it is not normal. Other than feeding an infant in American culture, sucking on breasts has sexual connotations. Once the child is beyond the age that your average child drinks from a bottle, breast feeding comes across as incestuous or as child abuse, although not that severe. But that is why it is taboo, because it is not the norm and has sexual connotations. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/19 "2003-02-04T15:18:47Z")
“yummy sweet mommy juice” I’m copyrighting that brand name! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667/20 "2003-02-04T15:20:14Z")
hmmm… or would that be trademarking? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-taboo-for-anyone-older-than-a-baby-to-drink-breastmilk/152667.md?page=2)