Human milk is the gold standard of nutrition for newborns, especially premature and low-birth-weight babies. However, when it is donated and pooled in Human Milk Banks, it must go through pasteurization before being fed to infants.
1. Safety First - Eliminating Harmful Germs
Raw human milk may contain bacteria or viruses from the donor, even if the donor is healthy. Pasteurization (commonly Holder pasteurization: heating milk at 62.5°C for 30 minutes) helps destroy harmful pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis, CMV, or bacterial contaminants while keeping the milk safe for babies.
2. Protecting Vulnerable Infants
Premature and medically fragile babies have weaker immune systems. For them, even minor infections can be life-threatening. Pasteurization ensures that these infants receive the life-saving benefits of breast milk without exposure to potential risks.
3. Retaining Key Nutritional Value
Pasteurization, when done with proper equipment, preserves most of the milk’s nutritional and immunological benefits, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and antibodies, while removing harmful microbes.
4. Standardization for Milk Banks
For milk banks, pasteurization is a mandatory international guideline (by WHO, UNICEF, Indian National Guidelines, and European Milk Bank Association). It ensures uniform quality and safety in donor milk distribution.
5. Building Trust & Compliance
Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) helps build trust among doctors, hospitals, and parents, making milk banking more widely accepted and compliant with healthcare regulations.
Pasteurization makes donor milk safe, reliable, and effective transforming it into a true medicine for newborns.
Be the hospital that saves more lives. Inquire about milk bank installation now.
Mettle Innovations
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