Virginia Thorley wrote:
> Christine B. wrote: "My own (unconsidered) opinion has been that pasteurized
> breast milk is basically the very best 'formula'."
>
> No, breastmilk, expressed or otherwise, is definitely NOT the "best"
> formula.  For a start, it is not a "formula".  A "formula" (or recipe) is
> subject to human error at every stage of its manufacture, whether in the
> factory or the kitchen.  This error can be through measurement inaccuracies
> (about which there are numerous studies) and through contamination.  Even
> before the measurement is done, there is the assumption that mixing up
> bottles to the same recipe, at any time of day, based on age or weight, is
> what babies need.
>   
I'm sorry, but by your definition I would say that _pasteurized_ breast
milk is formula.  The pasteurization is a 'manufacturing process' and
there could easily be mistakes in temperature or time measurement.

Also, this is the first time that I have heard the term 'ebm' used to
refer to pasteurized breast milk.  This is a place where I would suggest
that we need to be careful, because we don't know what changes have been
made.  Yes, several people have pointed out helpful studies that show
that particular components are not greatly affected, but no one posted a
study comparing long term health effects of the use of pasteurized
breast milk as opposed to breast milk in its natural state.

I think that we're running into a difference in presuppositions in this
whole discussion.  Most seem to assume that pasteurization is a
relatively minor change.  From my family's experience, even the type of
pasteurization can make noticable differences in cow's milk.  My family
consumes quite a bit of dairy, but I refuse to buy UHT/ultra-pasteurized
dairy because it usually tastes aweful and sometimes makes family
members ill.  I would buy unpasteurized dairy for my family if I could
find a safe and reasonably convenient source.  This experience makes me
much more suspicious about the pasteurization of breast milk.

Christine Bussman

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