Some breast milk sold online contains cow’s milk

Some breast milk sold online contains cow’s milk


Feeding your child breast milk purchased online poses a slew of dangers. It’s a practice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against … and with good reason.

Breast milk is widely considered the ideal food for babies. But obtaining it from unknown sources could result in exposing your baby to disease and harmful substances, such as alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs.

A group of Ohio researchers say online breast milk purchases are increasingly common, despite these risks. The group’s studies of breast milk sold online have recently highlighted another danger: The stuff parents purchase for their little ones isn’t always what it’s advertised to be.

The scientists tested 102 packages they anonymously bought online and found that 10 percent held more than just human breast milk.

Several packages contained human milk and cow’s milk. And we’re not just talking a trace amount of cow’s milk that could be chalked up to accidental contamination.

The researchers believe some sellers of breast milk mix in a little cow’s milk to stretch their supply, allowing them to sell more packages.

For babies allergic to cow’s milk — or those whose little tummies just can’t handle it yet — getting cow’s milk during a feeding would be harmful.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months. But some women are unable to maintain a supply of breast milk for this long, or cannot breastfeed because of other health and practical concerns.

In these scenarios, it’s best to opt for formula. While formula doesn’t provide all the benefits of breast milk, it is safe and there are a variety of options for little ones with allergies.

So remember, when it comes to buying breast milk online … sometimes breast is not always best.

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