Maker Of Placenta Smoothies Under Investigation By Health Officials

Kathryn Beale, a 41-year-old resident of Swindon, South West England, is under investigation by UK health officials for her polarizing line of work, in which Beale makes smoothies for new mothers using pieces of their own placentas, blended with fruits and juices. Beale also turns the raw placenta into capsules for her clients.

Beale, who works as a birth and post-natal doula (childbirth assistant), told the BBC that she believes officials had been "a bit overzealous" in trying to shut down her business before doing a full inspection.

Officials have submitted an order "seeking a hygiene emergency prohibition order in respect of raw human placenta practices," but it was not granted. They indicated that the order was requested because the ramifications of the practice were unknown, and potentially posed a number of health risks.

Beale has voluntarily shut down her operations until she meets with health inspectors, though she says there are around 50 other providers of similar services around the country, and that the entire process is "tightly controlled."

"Everything has to be cleaned and sterilized and there is quite strict hygiene involved," Beale told the BBC.