Selling Breast Milk: Safety Risks, Regulation, and Ethical Alternatives

The sale of human breast milk for consumption is strongly discouraged and heavily regulated due to significant safety risks:

Risks of Informal Sale/Purchase

• Infectious Disease Transmission: HIV, HBV, HCV, CMV, syphilis, SARS-CoV-2 – can survive in milk; donor screening often absent.
• Contamination: Bacterial growth (improper collection/storage), adulteration (cow's milk, water), drugs/toxins (nicotine, meds, herbs).
• Nutritional Inadequacy: Variable caloric/density; not tailored to recipient infant.
• Legal Liability: Sellers/buyers may violate FDA/state food safety laws; no regulatory oversight.

Regulated Alternative: Nonprofit Milk Banks (HMBANA)

• Screen donors (serology, lifestyle, medical history, MD consent).
• Pasteurize (Holder method: 62.5°C × 30 min) – retains most bioactive factors.
• Test post-pasteurization cultures.
• Dispense by prescription to medically fragile infants (NICU priority).
• Accredited by Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

For Parents with Excess Milk

Donate to HMBANA milk bank (find at hmbana.org). It's safe, ethical, and saves preterm lives.

For Parents Needing Milk

Request pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) through NICU/pediatrician. Insurance often covers for medical indications.

Never buy/sell milk online or informally.