The Licktators

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The Licktators was an ice cream manufacturing company in London, England that has been described by the department store Selfridges as "more Sid and Nancy than Ben & Jerry". [1]

Contents

Foundation

Licktators was founded by activist Matt O’Connor, founder of Fathers 4 Justice and formerly of The Icecreamists. He uses unusual flavours and textures to create his ice creams such as donated breast milk, bread, roses and absinthe. The company once served a three-course Sundae Lunch which featured pea, beef and horseradish flavours. [2] The company gained notoriety in 2011 for its "Baby Gaga" breast milk ice cream, which is made with donated breast milk. In 2015 Licktators collaborated with the band Blur to create an ice cream flavour based on their album, The Magic Whip . [3]

The breast milk ice cream was launched in 2011 with the help of Victoria Hiley, a breastfeeding mother and advocate who answered an ad asking for breastmilk posted on Mumsnet, an online mothers' group. She donated 850 ml of breast milk which helped make the first 50 servings of ice cream. [4] It was relaunched as "Royal Baby Gaga" in 2015 in celebration of the birth of Princess Charlotte and to remind the Duchess of Cambridge and mothers around the UK of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Founder Matt O'Connor has been involved with ice cream for over 20 years.[ citation needed ] As a designer, he helped launch Vienneta and Magnum, and designed the packaging for Loseley ice cream. He studied flavour theory in Italy at Bologna’s Carigiani Gelato University.[ citation needed ] He works with Mark Broadbent, his chef and Alex Kammerling, a mixologist[ clarification needed ] for Grey Goose.[ citation needed ]

In 2009, Licktators was threatened with legal action by the Sex Pistols after the debut of "God Save the Cream" (a take-off of the 1977 Sex Pistols song, God Save the Queen) which contained a herbal Viagra-type ingredient. [5] In March 2011, The Icecreamists ice cream parlour was ordered to stop selling the "Baby Gaga" breast milk ice cream by Westminster Council. After two complaints from members of the public and apprehension about the product on the part of the Health Protection Agency and Food Standards Agency, officials confiscated all ice cream that contained breast milk so that it could undergo testing for potential communicable pathogens contained in bodily fluids. [6] O’Connor, however, insisted that the breast milk was screened and tested using the same processes that blood donor centres and breast milk banks use. The health protection agency ultimately permitted sale for human consumption. [7]

In 2015, Lady Gaga threatened to sue O’Connor for the use of her name in association with the "Baby Gaga" ice cream, claiming that he had used her name without consent. [8] At that time it was renamed "Royal Baby Gaga" to commemorate the birth of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was distributed in blue and pink tubs and showed the Duchess holding a baby, accompanied by a pink and blue British flag. He claimed the name was a reference to the sound that babies make.[ citation needed ]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infant formula</span> Manufactured food designed for feeding infants

Infant formula, baby formula or just formula or baby milk, infant milk, false milk, or first milk, is a manufactured food designed and marketed for feeding to babies and infants under 12 months of age, usually prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from powder or liquid. The U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) defines infant formula as "a food which purports to be or is represented for special dietary use solely as a food for infants by reason of its simulation of human milk or its suitability as a complete or partial substitute for human milk".

Breast pump Mechanical device used to extract milk from human breasts

A breast pump is a mechanical device that lactating women use to extract milk from their breasts. They may be manual devices powered by hand or foot movements or automatic devices powered by electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wet nurse</span> Woman who breastfeeds and cares for anothers child

A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, or if she is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures, the families are linked by a special relationship of milk kinship. Wet-nursing existed in cultures around the world until the invention of reliable formula milk in the 20th century. The practice has made a small comeback in the 21st century.

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The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes is an international health policy framework for breastfeeding promotion adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. The Code was developed as a global public health strategy and recommends restrictions on the marketing of breast milk substitutes, such as infant formula, to ensure that mothers are not discouraged from breastfeeding and that substitutes are used safely if needed. The Code also covers ethical considerations and regulations for the marketing of feeding bottles and teats. A number of subsequent WHA resolutions have further clarified or extended certain provisions of the Code.

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Matt OConnor (activist) British activist

Matt O’Connor is a marketing consultant, political activist, and author. He is the founder and leader of the Fathers 4 Justice organisation.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breastfeeding in public</span> Attitudes to and legal status of breastfeeding in public

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Human milk bank Service that collects and dispenses human milk

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latch (breastfeeding)</span> The way a baby fastens onto the breast while breastfeeding

Latch refers to how the baby fastens onto the breast while breastfeeding. A good latch promotes high milk flow and minimizes nipple discomfort for the mother, whereas poor latch results in poor milk transfer to the baby and can quickly lead to sore and cracked nipples. In a good latch, both the nipple and a large portion of the areola are in the baby's mouth.

Breastfeeding contraindications

Contraindications to breastfeeding are those conditions that could compromise the health of the infant if breast milk from their mother is consumed. Examples include galactosemia, untreated HIV, untreated active tuberculosis, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 or II, uses illicit drugs, or mothers undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

References

  1. ↑ Cooshtee. "The Licktators". The Licktators - Original British Licks. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Matt O'Connor - father for justice and ice cream extremist". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  3. ↑ music, Guardian (11 May 2015). "Blur whip up branded ice cream for forthcoming UK tour". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Someone's re-launched breast milk ice cream in honour of the royal baby". Metro. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Matt O'Connor - father for justice and ice cream extremist". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Breast milk ice cream banned from London shop". 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Matt O'Connor - father for justice and ice cream extremist". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lady Gaga threatens breast milk ice cream maker". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
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