As the baby formula crisis continues to worsen in the United States, a woman from Utah has come to the rescue by putting her breast milk up for sale. 

Alyssa Chitti is a mom from the Beehive State, who has sold over 118 litres of her breast milk. Previously, she attempted to donate it to a milk bank, but decided to take matters into her own hands after viewing the bank’s long donation procedure. 

Chitti, who sells her milk for $1 an ounce, recently spoke to Fox13 and shared that she owns three freezers that are loaded with breast milk. 

“I figure I’m running out of room, so might as well help someone else. I know I have over 3,000 ounces. 3,000 ounces downstairs and almost 1,000 upstairs,” she joked. 

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While her breast milk stands at a price of $1 for an ounce, Chitti is willing to negotiate with parents as she empathizes with their circumstances amid the baby formula shortage in the nation.

She also emphasized on how some infants require specific baby formula due to stomach sensitivity, adding that her own daughter is slightly “colicky” and so, she understands the seriousness and complexity of such situations. 

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“I know a lot of moms need specific formulas for babies with upset tummies, and I know how hard it can be when they’re upset. There’s nothing you can do about that stomach pain,” she said.

According to a report by Fox13, Chitti began receiving criticism soon after her interview was telecasted. She then decided to stop selling her breast milk. However, it is crucial to note that selling or purchasing breast milk in the United States is legal, although it is unregulated. 

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The outlet also reported, while citing Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that breast milk that is directly obtained does not undergo screening, which heightens the risk of contamination and infectious diseases. On the other hand, donating it to a milk bank usually involves days of careful screening.