New moms often hear the phrase “breast is best” when it comes to feeding their newborns. However, when a mother adopts or is simply unable to breastfeed, what are her options? While some believe the next best thing is online breast milk banks, a recent study shows breast milk purchased online yields a high risk of contaminates.
Researcher, Sarah A. Keim, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH began analyzing breast milk samples upon noticing more online sites offering to buy, sell or donate human milk. Her team found that nearly 75-percent of breast milk purchased from OnlyTheBreast.com contained high levels of disease-causing bacteria.
“I can’t think of something you can buy online where you have less ability to validate the quality,” Keim told NBC News. “Even frozen milk was just as contaminated as thawed milk. There wasn’t a whole lot recipients can rely on to know that it’s OK.”
While as many as 13,000 people posted to some of the top sites offering milk in 2011, the recent analysis showed that the contamination is caused by poor milk collection, storage or shipping practices. Representatives from Only The Breast say they intend to stop informal breast milk exchanges and will, instead, work with a laboratory to provide screened milk.
Founders Khadijah Cisse of MilkShare and Shell Walker of Eats On Feets, offer a different perspective siting that “breast milk is supposed to contain bacteria” and “there’s not a single feeding method outside of that closed biological system that doesn’t warrant close monitoring,” respectively.
“The pathogenic bacteria, those are the ones that are the most concerning,” Keim said. All of the sharing sites urge women to collect, store and send milk in sanitary ways and to offer medical proof that the milk is safe. It’s not clear, however, how many suppliers follow those instructions.
Read more on TODAY regarding the study and the dangers of sharing breast milk.
BMWK– What are your thoughts on breast milk purchased online?