Breastmilk contains antimicrobial components that fight bacteria. The protective properties of breastmilk have been well established.1
When breastmilk is heat-treated, bacteria are generally destroyed even if the different methods of heat treating affect the milk differently.2 3
It can be important to know that some bacteria form spores when exposed to heat. Bacillus cereus is such a spore-forming bacterium and has been known to cause about 2% of the total cases of food poisoning. It is widely found in nature (soil, crops, water).4
Bacillus food poisoning usually occurs because heat-resistant endospores survive cooking or pasteurization and then germinate and multiply when the food is inadequately refrigerated.5 While Bacillus cereus bacterium is easily controlled by proper handling,6 this bacterium is not reduced by heat-treating. B. Cereus can be of special concern to sick and premature babies7 because of their compromised immune systems.
Milk banks screen for this and other bacteria before and after pasteurization. Home screening of bacteria is technically possible, but expensive and/or elaborate. Proper handling is important in avoiding contamination by bacteria.
When donating to a premature baby, special considerations may need to be taken into account. Please see What about premature babies? for more information and consult with a specialized healthcare provider when planning on donating to a premature baby.
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- Why breastmilk? ↩︎
- How can breastmilk be pasteurized at home? ↩︎
- Flash-heating ↩︎
- Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Bacillus cereus Food Poisoning ↩︎
- New Zealand Food Safety Authority – Bacillus cereus
↩︎ - Ecolab – What is Bacillus cereus? ↩︎
- Nicholaus J. Hilliard, et al. 2003. Bacillus cereus Bacteremia in a Preterm Neonate ↩︎
