Overview

• Calvin Harris shared graphic Instagram photos of wife Vick Hope’s placenta and its processing in their son’s birth announcement, driving a surge in public interest.
• Specialists across England, Wales and Northern Ireland now offer placenta capsules, gummies, smoothies, facial oils and even artwork at prices ranging from about £65 to over £300.
• Under Food Standards Agency rules, providers must register as food businesses and comply with local hygiene and safety regulations before selling placenta products.
• Medical professionals warn that ingesting processed placenta carries risks—including bacterial infection and heavy metal exposure—and note a 2017 CDC warning after a strep B case.
• A 2018 placebo-controlled study found no significant differences in postpartum mood, energy or bonding between women taking placenta pills and those given a placebo.