Heather asked:
>Why are the organisers of the networks permitting women to promote their
milk in terms of 'best quality'  and 'safest' and 'certified'? This cannot
possibly be a good thing. There should be a code of practice about it.<

The answer is that the networks are NOT doing that.
The study this came from only looked at milk that was sold over the web by
individuals. They noted that the milk was not packed properly, may not have
been handled correctly in the first place, and some of it spent a very long
time in transit. The only contact between the seller and the purchaser was
of a financial nature.

In contrast to that, milk-sharing networks in the USA do not allow milk to
be sold - it is all given freely, mother to mother. Those in need of milk
are encouraged to meet donors whenever possible, and they often develop
friendships. Donors are encouraged to undergo the same medical screening as
those donating to milk banks, and recipients are encouraged to ask for the
test results. The networks provide information about milk handling, storage
and transportation, so that it arrives in good condition.

Informal sharing does carry higher risks than milk banking, but it is
nowhere near the levels encountered by that study. These are mothers with
healthy babies who receive no payment for their milk, but are donating it
out of the goodness of their hearts.
For more information see this article:

Milk Sharing: Formal and Informal, by Sharon Knorr, BSMT(ASCP), IBCLC, RLC
https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/milk-sharing-formal-and-informal


Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC
Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region
Website: www.NormaRitter.com
Facebook: facebook.com/BreastfeedingMatters
IBCLCs empower women and save babies' lives!
See how skilled IBCLC care differs from other breastfeeding help:
http://massbreastfeeding.org/landscape/

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