Breast Milk Bought Online May Not Be Pure

Breast milk bought online may contain some cow’s milk, a new study finds. In the study, about 10% contained cow’s milk. Researchers bought 102 samples of human milk advertised online. They tested the DNA in each sample. DNA in 10 samples showed that they contained at least 10% cow’s milk. The authors said sellers could have added the cow’s milk to stretch out the amount of breast milk they could sell. A prior study by the same researchers found that milk bought from online sites also may contain germs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recommend buying milk online. It has not banned the practice, however. Milk banks are another way to obtain breast milk. They test and pasteurize the milk. But they can’t supply everyone. They usually are restricted to babies with medical issues. The journal Pediatrics published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it April 6.