New Zealand Mums Offer To Contribute Breast Milk Amid Baby Formula Concerns

New Zealand mums are offering their own breast milk after the recent milk scare that alarmed China, the country’s largest customer of baby formula. The offers came when one mother from Whangarei had suggested the idea on Facebook.

Following the announcement of Federated Farmers about an anonymous threat to contaminate the milk powder with 1080 poison, about 30 women in the country’s North Island had willingly expressed their support for the idea of giving breast milk. Kelsie Brophy-Watts is the admin of the Facebook group “Whangarei mums and bubs under 5’s” where the idea began, reports the Northern Advocate.

Brophy Watts said she wanted to contribute breast milk to help mums who have difficulty breastfeeding their babies. She remarked that it was a “bit scary” to think about the possibility of babies at risk to the formula. She believes cow’s milk should not be given to babies below the age of one.

Despite the mums’ best intentions, Dr Catherine Bremner said there was a small risk when mums share their breast milk. The Northland DHB Pediatrician explained that sharing breast milk has a low risk since illnesses like Hepatitis B and C and HIV can be transmissible through bodily fluid.

Dr Pat Tuohy, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health chief adviser for child and youth health, urged mums to consult the experts before sharing their milk to others. She said women who volunteer to express breast milk for others can only do so after seeking the advice of a doctor or midwife. Tuohy suggested going to a specialised milk bank based in hospitals.

Meanwhile, Federated Farmers dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard said farmers should have a “food defence” mentality to boost security in farms particularly the milking shed, reports Stuff.co.nz. He believes New Zealand already has a “great reputation on food safety” but farmers need to focus on securing the dairy sheds.

Concerns of milk contamination began when Federated Farmers revealed there was an anonymous threat to poison the milk within New Zealand. Hoggard said he has installed surveillance cameras in his dairy shed amid security concerns.

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