In a message dated 1/23/2002 11:58:06 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> I've searched the archives and not found the answer to question of rancid,
> spoiled milk smell of expressed milk.  I realize from past posts this may
> have something to do with lipase and fat breakdown but wanted more info.
> Can
> any one please give me pointers for searching in Archives (topic to use) or
> direct answer?  The one post I found from '98 was a question and mentioned
> scalding milk before use; is this necessary and why?  This smell occurs
> with
> this mom's milk when frozen/refridgerated or freshly pumped (strongest
> smell
> with frozen and least with fresh).
> Thank you.
>
> Sincerely,  Barbara Latterner, BSN, RN, IBCLC
>

From page 173 and 174 of The Nursing Mother's Companion, 4th Revised Edition,
by Kathleen Huggins:

Occasionally a mother finds that her expressed milk has an unpleasant smell
or taste. Certain vitamin or mineral supplements can cause this; so can
steroidal nasal sprays. In either case, the affected milk is harmless.

Breast milk can take on a soapy smell if the fat has broken down, freeing
fatty acids. Apparently, some women have an excess of lipase, the enzyme that
breaks down the fat in milk. Usually they notice the soapy smell after the
milk has been refrigerated or frozen, but in some cases the smell develops
immediately after expression. Most babies will take such milk without
complaint, but the peculiar odor and taste can usually be lessened or
eliminated
either by chilling the milk before freezing it, or by putting it directly
into the freezer, then thawing it in the refrigerator before warming it in a
hot water bath. If these methods fail for you, you can inactivate the enzyme
by scalding the milk on the stove -- that is, by bringing the milk almost to
a boil -- and then immediately refrigerating or freezing it.

Hope that helps.

Cheryl Taylor White
www.drjaygordon.com

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