Prolacta Makes Statement on Recent Study Demonstrating Risks of Milk Sharing

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA. Oct. 23, 2013 – In recent days there has been extensive media coverage regarding a study in the journal Pediatrics about risks associated with informal breast milk sharing. The study analyzed samples of milk purchased from an online milk sharing website. We are not involved with nor do we promote milk sharing. Human milk that is exchanged through informal processes may not always be screened, tested nor pasteurized. Donors may not always be pre-screened or tested for viruses and drugs of abuse, which can be very dangerous to the recipient. Additionally, the FDA recommends against feeding your baby breast milk acquired directly from individuals or through the Internet.

Prolacta stands alone as the only organization that includes a rigorous donor qualification and milk collection process, a safety combination of DNA matching of mom to milk, testing for drugs and other contamination. Pooled donor milk is tested for HIV-1, HCV, and HBV using PCR tests to ensure the highest-quality available human milk products to feed the sickest infants in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICU). In addition, pooled milk, as well as the finished product is tested for contamination, including specific tests for Salmonella and coliform bacteria including E. coli.

Prolacta understands the danger that can be associated with tainted milk, and as such we have set the new standard of safety and quality in human milk collection, testing and processing. Prolacta’s milk processing is conducted in a pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing facility that is the first and only of its kind worldwide. As a result, Prolacta is safely able to provide NICUs with a complete line of human milk formulations to meet the needs of critically ill premature infants.

Prolacta believes that this study underscores the dangers associated with milk sharing, and calls for federal regulations to be set in order to ensure the safety of milk and the health of infants across the country. As the leader in human milk-based nutrition, we welcome and support the establishment of industry-wide critical safety guidelines.