Lack of testing is conducive to bacteria being transferred, experts say

Jul 4, 2013 06:51 GMT  ·  By

Actress, mom, and vegan Alicia Silverstone has stated that she is taking on a new venture, opening a breast milk bank for vegan clientele.

Howeverexperts believe that sharing breast milk can result in spreading disease and bacteria, and suggest that pre-testing should be a requirement. 

“It really promotes excellent health for a newborn, but unscreened breast milk has a lot of concerns, such as the transmission of viruses such as HIV, hepatitis, and bacteria such as syphilis,” argues Dr. Joanne Stone of Mount Sinai.

According to ABC News, the “Clueless” star broke the news on her blog, “The Kind Life.” She calls out lactating mothers to donate breast milk to the “Kind Mama Milk Share” initiative.

36-year-old Silverstone is also a mother, and she has fed her son Bear by chewing his food then serving it to him.

“What a child consumes is one of the most important decisions a mother can make,” she says.

As reported, she encourages her fan base to reshare her post on the milk bank and let her know if they want to make donations.

“I wanted to create a space where like-minded women with this very particular need can start a dialogue and build community.

“It’s a jumping-off point for moms to connect and be active participants in finding the perfect fit for their baby. It goes without saying that common sense precautions should be taken,” Silverstone says.

Her friend, Rachel Holtzman, whose story was also the inspiration for the project, describes needing milk after a breast reduction surgery.

“You’re in this incredibly vulnerable place. [...] I sought out vegan breast milk, because I come to this from a food is medicine standpoint.”

“Women have just been incredibly generous and I’m hoping that with their help, we’ll be able to keep Levi exclusively breast-fed for as long as possible,” Holtzman says.