Bacterial Contamination of Purchased Breast Milk

When mothers are unable to successfully produce breast milk for their infants, use of pasteurized donor milk is an acceptable alternative and recommended for preterm infants. Donor milk is available through regulated milk banks that screen donors and pasteurize milk to remove potential pathogens. Given the demand for breast milk, several human milk–sharing websites have arisen to connect donors and recipients and allow buyers to purchase milk directly from donors. The method of milk collection and transport is at the seller's discretion.

Investigators compared bacterial and viral contamination in 101 Internet samples obtained from individual sellers identified through web advertisement and 20 samples obtained from a licensed milk bank before…