Is Breast Milk Sold Online Really Breast Milk?
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Fuse/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — People sell human breast milk on the Internet, but there’s no oversight when it comes to quality.
Now, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics further examines Internet-purchased breast milk.
Researchers anonymously purchased 102 breast milk samples online from U.S.-based websites and used DNA markers specific to cow or human DNA to determine the source.
All of the samples contained breast milk, testing positive for human DNA, but 11 percent also tested positive for cow DNA, according to the study.
In 10 of the 11 mixed samples, at least 10 percent of the milk was cow’s milk, perhaps to increase the quantity levels for sale, researchers said.
Milk that contains any form of cow’s milk might be harmful to babies with an allergy. The study’s researchers say parents should bear that in mind before purchasing breast milk online.
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