A French health authority has issued a warning about milk sharing. 

Here is what the coverage looks like:

http://www.lemonde.fr/depeches/2011/04/29/mise-en-garde-contre-l-echange-de-lait-maternel_673952.html

Below is a google translation into English.

-- Jodine Chase

Warning against the exchange of milk
Reuters | 29.04.11 | 1:45 p.m.
PARIS (Reuters) - French health authorities warned Friday on the risks associated with the exchange of milk, a practice favored by a global network sharing on the Internet.

These exchanges have indeed risk of transmitting infectious agents, said the French Agency for Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS) in a statement.

She says she was informed of the contact, via Facebook, donors wishing to offer their mothers milk and mothers who are unable to breastfeed sufficiently within the network "The Human Milk for Human Babies global network".

But "no control microbiological and serological being exercised prior to the donor when the donation is made out of milk banks, milk presents a risk to the child," said Afssaps.

The bacteria in question can cause sepsis and meningitis in the newborn if these germs are ingested in large quantities in breast milk, the agency added.

Viruses, transmitted through breast milk, may also be present, the most common being the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the T-lymphotrophic virus (HTLV), hepatitis viruses and that of rubella.

In addition, the conditions of transport and storage of milk exchanged directly between mothers through this network on the internet are not regulated and can lead to product degradation and bacterial growth.

Gerard Bon, edited by Patrick Vignal
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