You’ve probably seen the pink tubs or the viral TikToks of people tentatively licking a scoop of yellow-tinged dessert. It’s the kind of thing that makes you do a double-take at the grocery store—if you could even find it there. The "Breast Milk Ice Cream" from Frida (specifically the Frida Mom line) isn't just a weird snack. Honestly, it’s one of the most brilliant, slightly chaotic marketing moves in recent parenting history.
People lost their minds when this first started circulating. Some were grossed out. Others were genuinely curious about what "liquid gold" tastes like in frozen form. But before you go hunting for a gallon of human-sourced dairy, let’s clear up the biggest misconception right now: it’s not actually made from human breast milk.
What is Frida Breast Milk Ice Cream, actually?
The brand Frida partnered with NYC’s cult-favorite OddFellows Ice Cream Co. to create this flavor. It was designed to mimic the taste and nutritional profile of human milk, but the base is very much bovine. Think of it as a "tribute" flavor rather than a literal one.
It contains standard ice cream stuff: heavy cream, egg yolks, and sugar. But to get that "authentic" breast milk vibe, they added some specific components. We’re talking about liposomal bovine colostrum, Omega-3s (the brain-fueling stuff found in breast milk), lactose, and a hint of honey.
The color is a specific shade of "colostrum yellow." If you've ever seen early-stage milk, you know it’s not bright white; it has a rich, golden hue. This ice cream leans into that. It’s salty, sweet, and oddly familiar to anyone who has ever accidentally (or intentionally) tasted their own supply.
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Why would a company do this?
Marketing. Plain and simple. But it’s a specific kind of marketing Frida calls a "productizement."
Frida Mom has a history of getting their ads banned. They tried to run a commercial during the Oscars showing the raw, unedited reality of postpartum life—bloody mesh underwear and all. ABC said no. They tried billboards with nursing bodies. Blocked.
So, how do you talk about breastfeeding without getting censored by TV networks or the FCC? You make a product that is the ad. You can’t easily ban a physical product sitting on a shelf or being handed out in a Brooklyn pop-up.
This launch wasn’t really about becoming an ice cream mogul. It was the "loud" way to announce their new 2-in-1 Manual Breast Pump. By making everyone talk about the "gross" or "cool" ice cream, they forced a conversation about the mechanics of pumping and the nutritional value of milk. It’s genius, really.
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The Flavor Profile: A Quick Breakdown
If you managed to snag a pint for the $12.99 asking price (plus shipping), here is what you actually tasted:
- Saltiness: Real breast milk has a surprising hit of sodium.
- Honey notes: Mimics the natural, mild sweetness.
- Creaminess: High fat content, similar to the "hindmilk" that comes at the end of a nursing session.
- Nutrients: It actually has Iron, Zinc, and Vitamins B and D.
The Controversy and the "Eww" Factor
The internet reacted exactly how you’d expect. Reddit threads blew up with people asking where the milk was sourced. PETA even jumped in, sending a letter to Frida’s CEO, Chelsea Hirschhorn, suggesting they make it vegan to "save the cows."
Then there were the "purists" who were actually disappointed it wasn't human milk. Believe it or not, there’s a small history of real breast milk ice cream. A chef in London once served "Baby Gaga" ice cream made from donated human milk before the health department shut it down. Frida avoided that legal nightmare by sticking to cows and chemistry.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most people think this was a permanent product. It wasn't. It was a limited drop for National Breastfeeding Month. If you see a tub now, it’s probably a collector's item or very, very expired.
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The other big mistake? Thinking it’s just for babies. Frida marketed this as something "most people need" because of the nutrients. While that’s a bit of a stretch—you’re better off eating a salad than a pint of ice cream for your Zinc intake—it successfully framed breast milk as a superfood rather than a "taboo" bodily fluid.
Actionable Takeaways for Parents
If you missed the ice cream but are actually in the middle of the breastfeeding or pumping journey, here’s how to use the "hype" for your own benefit:
- Check the Tech: The 2-in-1 Manual Pump that this ice cream launched is actually quite good for "fridge hacking" or quick sessions when you don't want to bring the big electric rig.
- Normalize the Conversation: If your family thinks breastfeeding is "gross," use the ice cream story as a bridge. It’s literally just nutrients.
- Colostrum Awareness: The "yellow" color of the ice cream highlights why that early milk is so important. If you’re pregnant, look into "colostrum harvesting" (with your doctor’s okay) before the baby arrives.
- Don't Buy the Resale: Seriously. Don't buy "vintage" Frida ice cream from an eBay seller. It’s dairy. It will end poorly for your stomach.
Ultimately, Frida succeeded. They made us look at a pink tub of "breast milk" flavored sugar and talk about the reality of being a mom. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s exactly why the brand stays at the top of the parenting world.