"Making $3,500 a Month Selling Breast Milk"... 'High-Protein' Craze Among US Bodybuilders

Recognized as a Premium Protein Supplement and Gaining Popularity
Experts Say "No Scientific Evidence to Support the Claims"

In the United States, breast milk is increasingly being viewed as a "premium protein supplement" among bodybuilders, leading to a growing market for its trade.

According to the British media outlet The Mirror and others on August 17, there has been a recent rise in cases of mothers selling surplus breast milk for profit.

Mackenzie Stelly, 23, a resident of Louisiana, began donating her excess breast milk through the medical institution Tiny Treasures after giving birth to her second child last year. The institution paid $1 (about 1,400 KRW) per ounce (approximately 30ml) of breast milk, and Stelly earned about $1,000 (about 1.4 million KRW) per month through this arrangement.

Subsequently, through local social networking service (SNS) groups, bodybuilders began reaching out with requests to purchase breast milk to "build muscle." Stelly sold to bodybuilder clients at $5 (about 7,000 KRW) per ounce, generating an average monthly income of $3,500 (about 4.8 million KRW).

She explained, "I started donating because I had to receive donated breast milk for my first child, as I couldn't breastfeed at the time." She added, "While I respect the opinion that breast milk should be provided for free to those in need, it is a product of my body and my time." She further stated, "Since bodybuilders seek it for protein supplementation rather than survival, I set a higher price for them."

In addition to Stelly, a nurse in Georgia began selling breast milk via SNS in May this year and sold 3,500 ounces (about 103 liters) within a few months. Another seller reportedly earned about 14.7 million KRW over a span of 10 months.

Some sellers have commented that the process of collecting, storing, and advertising breast milk takes more than half a day, making it feel like a full-time job.

The trade of breast milk originally began as a means of donation and sale for premature and infant children. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the perception of breast milk as a "superfood" that boosts immunity has spread, expanding the market to include adults.

However, experts point out that while breast milk is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, and immune components, there is no scientific evidence proving that its consumption by adults leads to muscle development or improved health.