Low temperatures (freezing)

For long-term storage, leite materno is best kept in freezers of -20 degrees C or colder. The basic principles of freezing dictate that frozen foods at -18C (0F) estão indefinidamente protegidos contra contaminação bacteriana, although enzymatic processes inherent in food could persist, com possíveis mudanças na qualidade do leite.1 Viruses such as CMV and HTLV are reduced or eliminated.2 Hopefully, more research will be done regarding cold temperatures as milk treatment.

See the section on CMV  e HTLV for more information about the promising effect of cold treatment of viruses.

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  1. Protocolo Clínico ABM #8: Informações de armazenamento de leite humano para uso doméstico para bebês a termo ↩︎
  2. Dr.. John May, e outros. 2005. Mesas La Trobe ↩︎