{"id":20898,"date":"2017-02-16T10:31:52","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T15:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencescosmaincms.cm.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=20898"},"modified":"2024-08-16T09:42:59","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T13:42:59","slug":"peer-milk-sharing-participants-generally-keep-clean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/news\/peer-milk-sharing-participants-generally-keep-clean\/","title":{"rendered":"Peer Milk-Sharing Participants Generally Keep it Clean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story by\u00a0Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala, UCF Today<\/em><\/p>\n

Courtesy of UCF Today<\/p><\/div>\n

Mothers who want the benefits of breast milk for their babies but can\u2019t produce the substance often turn to milk-sharing networks.<\/p>\n

A new study from the University of Central Florida found that although not a recommended practice, those who participate in milk-sharing networks generally follow good hygiene, which is critical for keeping milk free from bacterial contamination.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeer milk sharing is a growing practice despite warnings from the FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics,\u201d said Beatriz Reyes-Foster<\/a>, Ph.D., lead author and an anthropology assistant professor. \u201cOur findings suggest that parents who engage in these networks are taking precautions to make sure their children don\u2019t get sick and that\u2019s not something we knew before this study. But there is room for improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reyes-Foster, sociology Associate Professor Shannon K. Carter<\/a>, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Melanie Sberna Hinojosa<\/a>, Ph.D., published their findings in this month\u2019s edition of the Journal of Human Lactation<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The team of researchers surveyed 321 Central Florida peer milk-sharing parents who did not exchange money for milk. They asked:<\/p>\n