Breast Milk: Liquid Purchased Online May Be Contaminated With Bacteria

With August upon us, otherwise known as Breastfeeding Awareness month, many new moms are looking for the perfect nourishment to feed their little one. Unfortunately, for some, it isn't always a choice how to feed their child. Some will still be met with an unsupportive response in public or a medical reason may prevent them from sharing milk with their baby, including hormone disorders, HIV, or the use of certain medications while pregnant. Similarly, some women are unable to adequately produce enough milk to feed their child or the newborn may not be able to stomach the mixture.

For mothers who still want to receive the original breast milk instead of a formula, which is oftentimes missing certain antioxidants and vitamins, sharing programs can be helpful. However, a new study investigates the dangers of packing and sending the milk, which runs the risk of contaminating the product, making it unsuitable for the baby to drink. Furthermore, a new obsession where adults are buying breast milk online in the hopes of boosting energy and muscle bulk has the medical health community concerned. 

"Nutritionally there is less protein in breast milk than other milks like cow's milk. Potential buyers should be made aware that there is no scientific evidence that adult consumption of human milk for medicinal properties offers anything more than a placebo effect. Moreover, human breast milk is potentially very hazardous if used to replace a healthy balanced diet," said lead researcher, Dr. Sarah Steele from Queen Mary University of London, in a news release.

For instance, if women fail to properly sanitize when preparing the milk or do not sterilize the storage containers used, it can actually become a host for bacterial growth. Due to a lack of pasteurization and regulated testing, there is very much an increased risk, which can also potentially transit disease from any infected users with hepatitis, HIV and/or syphilis.

"While many online mums claim they have been tested for viruses during pregnancy, many do not [realize] that serological screening needs to be undertaken regularly," Dr. Steele concluded. "Sexual and other activities in the postpartum period may expose the woman expressing to viruses that they may unwittingly pass on to consumers of the milk."

More information regarding the findings were published in the Journal Of the Royal Society of Medicine.

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