Milk Bank WGL provides essential services for Wisconsin and Illinois hospitals and remained fully operational since the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic started. We understand that you may have concerns about COVID-19 and the safety of pasteurized donor human milk.
COVID-19 & Human Milk
- There is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through human milk. For more information about breastfeeding and COVID-19, visit: CDC: Breastfeeding & COVID-19 and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Statement on Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Coronaviruses that are closely related to the strain that causes COVID-19 are readily killed during pasteurization. For more information visit: Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): Milk Banking & COVID-19.
- The CDC recommends that breastfeeding mothers who test positive for COVID-19 continue to breastfeed or pump milk for their child.
Safety Precautions
Precautions are always in place to ensure the safety of our milk, but were especially important during the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Donors are screened for communicable diseases and receive blood tests before donating milk.
- Donor milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses.
- After pasteurization, milk is tested by a third party lab to ensure it is free of bacteria.
- Milk Bank WGL’s lab and processing areas are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and follow guidelines from the FDA, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Elk Grove Village Health Department, and the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.