F-cup cookies - no need to bother with those pesky implants

From Japan comes the F-Cup brand cookie containing nearly 50mg of that "miracle" breast enlarging herb Pueraria Mirifica. This product packaged in the form of a "cute" cookie gives me reason for pause.

What's this herb Pueraria Mirifica anyway?

It's a plant found in Thailand and SE Asia whose root contains phytoestrogens, plant derivatives that can mimic the effect of estrogen in the body. As with many herbal products, god knows how much of the product is actually in an individual cookie. Quality control for most such things is notoriously poor.

Will products like this make my breasts grow?

Possibly, as estrogen makes ductal tissue (the non fatty component of your breast) proliferate. Something like this would likely produce gynecomastia (man boobs) in males.

Should people be taking this without talking to your doctor?

Hell no! These types of herbs are apparently associated with similar risks as estrogen containing birth control pills or hormone replacement. There is literature suggesting (see here) these can make estrogen-responsive breast cancers proliferate or interfere with Tamoxifen (a common medicine used to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence that works by blocking estrogen pathways). Estrogen products can also make you more likely to spontaneously develop blood clots in your veins which can cause lethal pulmonary emboli.