Breast Milk To Haiti: Red Cross Tells Americans Not To Send It

The Red Cross is urging concerned women to stop sending their breast milk to Haiti, arguing that transportation, storage and screening create an unnecessary burden that negate any potential benefits of the donation.

MSNBC.com reports that the Human Milk Banking Association of North America put out a press release describing an urgent need for breast milk in Haiti, to feed orphaned and premature infants. The Emergency Nutrition Network and the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance have asked this group to retract the press release, saying that breast milk donations to Haiti present an "unfeasible and unsafe intervention."

From MSNBC.com:

The confusion started earlier this week when the milk bank group and several organizations -- including heavy hitters like La Leche League International -- urged nursing mothers to donate milk. While representatives for aid agencies such as the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and World Vision said there never was a need for donated milk, some agencies said they heard from workers at orphanages in Haiti who indicated that babies were going hungry.

Despite best intentions, nearly every major relief organization agrees that the best way to help Haiti's struggles at this time is to donate money so that nonprofits can continue their recovery efforts.

Comments

[angiemomma]

07:56 PM on 02/03/2010

That's nasty...just give the babies ready to eat Similac.

[justsaynosarahp]

05:16 PM on 01/30/2010

Spelling? Parmalat? Parmalait? -- it's milk packaged in cartons that does not need refrigeration (until opened) and has a long shelf life.
Why isn't that storage method being used?

[Ivriniel]

02:36 PM on 02/02/2010

Powdered milk would be even more efficient to send, provided there is water available to rehydrate it.

[MagicalPossibilities]

02:13 PM on 01/29/2010

I have to agree, I think breast milk banking is awesome, but unless there is a way to dehydrate it to a powder or package it in brick cartons, it is too perishable to withstand the rigors of getting it to its destination without risk of contamination. The last thing the kids need is food poisoning.

[andy macgrath]

04:23 AM on 01/30/2010

Texas breast reduction

I am agree with your comment. I am saying it can be more good to dry that milk and convert it as milk powder.

[desertrat05]

10:47 AM on 01/30/2010

Milk banks and organizations successfully donate pasturized breastmilk to infants in need in the U.S. and around the world. Granted, Haiti might not be ready to store the milk at the time, however, shipment was not a problem, kept frozen on dry ice. Milk banks screen the donors before they accept breastmilk. Powdered formula needs water, and a clean water supply is an issue in Haiti right now. A medically fragile infant could die from contaminated water. Ready to feed formulas need proper storage after opening. (just like breastmilk!) The benefits of donated breast milk that is kept at the appropriate temperature are far superior to formula for these babies.