FAST FACTS:
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
( Nashville, TN 2/19/2010) A Memphis lawmaker who says he was shocked by what On Your Side Investigators exposed last fall, has proposed a law to shut down mothers selling their breast milk.
"I had to really squeak my ears to see, am I really hearing this?" recalled State Representative Joe Towns Jr.
Our investigation uncovered hundreds of on-line posts from people looking to buy and sell human breast milk. That included ads from sellers in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Already this year, one website shows more than 100 new posts from potential buyers and sellers. It's something Towns calls startling.
"I think it's purely profit driven," said the longtime lawmaker. "We should never place profit over the health concerns of infants."
Right now, the sale of human breast milk is unregulated in Tennessee. But Towns wants to change that by making it a misdemeanor for someone to sell human milk. That means up to 30 days in jail and a up to a $50 fine if a person is convicted.
"It could come from any crack addict, it could come from any dope fiend, or any person who drinks too much putting all kinds of things in their body," explained Towns. "That child should never be allowed to consume that."
The proposed ban would not apply to healthcare facilities that screen milk, or to mothers storing it for their own kids.
"Many people have come to me and talked to me and said 'What kind of bill is this? What goes on? Oh, yuck," said Towns.
But should the sales be a crime. We found people on both sides of the issue.
"No, not really," said Stevie Gray from Bartlett. "I just think it's gross."
"It's just like selling drugs, you're selling your milk, so yeah," reasoned Monica Williams. Burrell Hughes agrees.
"Anything that makes money, people will manipulate it to their advantage and it would be bad for them," said Hughes.
Towns says in the internet age where customers are often dealing with anonymous sellers, shutting down the sales is a matter of safety.
"You can't trust people these days," said Towns. "The moral compass of people today is not what it was 100 years ago, so you have to make sure people are doing right."
The bill has been sent to committee for debate in both the state house and senate.
Towns says he's confident the ban will become law.
- Memphis lawmaker proposes ban on breast milk sales
- Rep. Joe Towns Jr. credits On Your Side Investigation with exposing the issue
- Hundreds of new on-line posts from potential buyers and sellers posted
Scott.Noll@wreg.com
( Nashville, TN 2/19/2010) A Memphis lawmaker who says he was shocked by what On Your Side Investigators exposed last fall, has proposed a law to shut down mothers selling their breast milk.
"I had to really squeak my ears to see, am I really hearing this?" recalled State Representative Joe Towns Jr.
Our investigation uncovered hundreds of on-line posts from people looking to buy and sell human breast milk. That included ads from sellers in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Already this year, one website shows more than 100 new posts from potential buyers and sellers. It's something Towns calls startling.
"I think it's purely profit driven," said the longtime lawmaker. "We should never place profit over the health concerns of infants."
Right now, the sale of human breast milk is unregulated in Tennessee. But Towns wants to change that by making it a misdemeanor for someone to sell human milk. That means up to 30 days in jail and a up to a $50 fine if a person is convicted.
"It could come from any crack addict, it could come from any dope fiend, or any person who drinks too much putting all kinds of things in their body," explained Towns. "That child should never be allowed to consume that."
The proposed ban would not apply to healthcare facilities that screen milk, or to mothers storing it for their own kids.
"Many people have come to me and talked to me and said 'What kind of bill is this? What goes on? Oh, yuck," said Towns.
But should the sales be a crime. We found people on both sides of the issue.
"No, not really," said Stevie Gray from Bartlett. "I just think it's gross."
"It's just like selling drugs, you're selling your milk, so yeah," reasoned Monica Williams. Burrell Hughes agrees.
"Anything that makes money, people will manipulate it to their advantage and it would be bad for them," said Hughes.
Towns says in the internet age where customers are often dealing with anonymous sellers, shutting down the sales is a matter of safety.
"You can't trust people these days," said Towns. "The moral compass of people today is not what it was 100 years ago, so you have to make sure people are doing right."
The bill has been sent to committee for debate in both the state house and senate.
Towns says he's confident the ban will become law.
