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What is RSS?Tuesday 7 December 2004
The results of a pilot study set up to explore methods for the collection and storage of breast milk samples have been published.
The aim was to look at whether a national breast milk archive could be set up so that samples of breast milk can be analysed regularly.
The study suggested several options and these will be discussed by the Food Standards Agency, Department of Health and other government departments.
Carried out by the Mother and Infant Research Unit at the University of Leeds, the pilot was funded by the Food Standards Agency, Department of Health, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Health and Safety Executive.
A total of 227 women between the ages of 16 and 42 within six NHS Trusts in Yorkshire gave samples of breast milk between 2001 and 2003.
To check the suitability of the samples for analysis the researchers also analysed the milk for various groups of environmental pollutants: dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals.
This part of the study was not a rigorous survey but they found that two groups of breast milk contaminants, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have fallen to less than half the level found in 1987/1988.
The study did not raise any concerns for the health of breast-fed babies from any of the contaminants that were detected in the samples.
The independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), which advises the FSA, considered the data and concluded there was no reason to alter breastfeeding advice.
The Agency and Department of Health continues to advise mothers that breastfeeding is best for babies.
Breast milk provides all the nutrients that a baby needs for healthy development in the first six months of life.
There is mounting evidence that, in the long term, breastfed babies have several advantages in terms of health and development.
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(pdf 53KB) SUREmilk study: Final report part 2 Main reportDownload pdf
(pdf 436KB) SUREmilk study: Final report part 3 AppendicesDownload pdf
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