Breast Milk Purchased Online May Actually Contain Cow's Milk, Too

You can't always trust everything you buy online, and that's certainly true when it comes to breast milk.

Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in a collaboration effort from The Ohio State University and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center purchased and tested 102 samples of breast milk advertised on milk-sharing websites.

They found that one in every 10 samples of breast milk purchased online actually contained cow's milk, which may have been used to increase volume in sample sizes.

"Purchasing breast milk online is not a good idea and introduces too many risks for infants," lead author Sarah Keim, a principal investigator at the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, said via Live Science.

During the study, researchers anonymously purchased 102 samples of milk on "milk-sharing" websites. The prices for the items are oftentimes varied, ranging anywhere from 50 cents to $3 per ounce. Yet researchers found that about 10 percent of samples contained bovine DNA, and they estimated that 10 out of 11 samples were actually 10 percent cows' milk.

Of course, cows' milk isn't inherently dangerous. However, pediatricians believe that children under the age of 12 should not consume it to avoid intolerance or a potential allergy to milk proteins.

"Ten Internet samples had bovine DNA concentrations high enough to rule out minor contamination, suggesting a cow's milk product was added. Cow's milk can be problematic for infants with allergy or intolerance," the study authors concluded. "Because buyers cannot verify the composition of milk they purchase, all should be aware that it might be adulterated with cow's milk. Pediatricians should be aware of the online market for human milk and the potential risks."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Pediatrics.