Experts are raising the alarm over the growing trend of human breast milk for sale online, warning the public that the milk contains harmful bacteria, drugs, and viruses, including HIV.
The experts' call prompted the removal of selling breast milk on the eBay platform, saying it had updated its automatic filters to stop its sale on the site in the future, The Guardian reported.
Red Flags in selling breast milk online
According to Dr. Sarah Steele, a public health researcher at the University of Cambridge, human breast milk has been sold online for some time, and it comes with information on potential risks.
In 2015, a study found that more than 75 percent of 101 breast milk samples sold online were poorly shipped and had high levels of bacterial growth. Fecal matter and salmonella were also observed, the research said.
At the time, there were already specialty websites such as Only the Breast and other general-purpose ad sites like Craiglist. On these sites, women who produce extra milk are selling it to moms who cannot express their milk. Some are sold to bodybuilders and other fitness enthusiasts who need extra nutrients.
Recently, Steele said that she had noticed an increased number of adverts after reports on social media of women earning as much as £10000 (around $13,620.45) for selling their milk to bodybuilders. She also observed that there had been a rise of listings on auction sites and online social marketplaces with buy-it-now prices. Steele expressed the following concerns about selling online:
- There is little information about the seller and little referencing on the safety advice or information on breastmilk;
- More preference on posting the milk online than sending it in person. It's a remote sale from a total stranger and no screening for the source of milk or building trust at all.
- Shipping which is mainly through Royal Mail, is not temperature controlled. This causes the bacteria to multiply, prompting food safety protocols for online grocery sites.
- A woman was advertising her breastmilk online. After a call from The Guardian, an eBay spokesperson disclosed that they have prohibited the sale of human breast milk on eBay. They said they removed listings on the item and updated automatic block filters so it will not be sold in the future.
Risks of unscreened milk
There are avenues where human breast milk is given for free, like milk banks. However, a lifestyle check on donors for factors such as drug use, screening for infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis is implemented. The breastmilk is also screened and pasteurized for safety.
Unscreened breastmilk may have cytomegalovirus or CMV. These are often found in cats. Although the virus is generally harmless, it poses serious health concerns for unborn babies, infants, and adults with weakened immune systems.
In 2015, Sarah Keim, Ph.D., of the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said that one of the risks of getting breastmilk from unknown sources is getting infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, which can be transmitted through breastmilk.
Milk sold online may also be diluted with cow's milk and other fluids. The storage bags used may also be contaminated with other substances such as gram-negative bacteria, often associated with poor hygiene practices. Gram-negative bacteria are also harmful to health.
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