Breast milk for sale on the internet can pose serious health risks , experts have warned . Milk sold online can be cheaper than from regulated milk banks , and is often bought by mothers who are unable to breastfeed , as well as cancer sufferers , fetishists and bodybuilders . Research published in the British Medical Journal said stricter regulation is needed as it could be potentially dangerous - especially for babies . Buying breast milk online - rather from a certified milk bank - can be dangerous , experts have warned . The report said women often feel pressurised by 'emotive , moralising discourse around breast feeding ' and the belief that 'formula is inferior to human milk ' . 'In the absence of warnings about the dangers of buying milk online , this option might seem healthy and beneficial - the better choice if one ca n't breast feed oneself , ' it added . 'What mothers , and many healthcare workers , do n't realise is that this market is dangerous , putting infant health at risk . ' The report said milk should be screened for diseases , such as hepatitis B and C , HIV and human T cell lymphotropic virus and syphilis . Healthcare workers should be offered training on the online market so they can provide good advice and offer safe alternatives to new mothers , it added . Previous research has shown that milk purchased online has more bacterial growth due to lack of pasteurisation and poor shipping and storage . Buying breast milk online can pose health risks for babies , experts warn . Writing in the British Medical Journal , researchers said buying breast milk from the internet - rather than from certified milk banks - carries risks . Stricter regulation of online breast milk retailers is needed , they said . They added milk should be screened for diseases , such as hepatitis B and C , HIV and human T cell lymphotropic virus and syphilis . Healthcare workers should be offered training on the online market so they can provide good advice and offer safe alternatives to new mothers , they added . Previous research has shown that milk purchased online has more bacterial growth due to lack of pasteurisation and poor shipping and storage . One study showed that only nine out of 101 samples did not have bacterial growth . Others revealed that 25 per cent of milk samples were delivered with poor packaging and were no longer frozen , and had been contaminated with drugs and other substances . 'At present milk bought online is a far from ideal alternative , exposing infants and other consumers to microbiological and chemical agents , ' the report led by the Global Health , Policy and Innovation Unit at Queen Mary University London concluded . 'Urgent action is required to make this market safer . ' Selling the milk has become big business in the United States , and women in the UK are now increasingly offering up their surplus milk . Websites such as onlythebreast.co.uk offer a forum for mothers to sell or donate their milk , with headings such as 'Nuneaton ; fatty , nutritious , healthy breast milk ' and 'Dairy free breast milk for sale - Dagenham ' . Sellers usually add a small profile about themselves with details such as whether they drink alcohol or caffeine , smoke or take drugs . It also features buyers ' listings , with the biggest category by far headed 'men wanting milk ' . It was set up in the US , where the original website appears to have many more users , but none are milk bank certified . Breast milk bought online has not been screened for diseases like HIV and hepatitis and can contain more bacteria , researchers said . Those wanting to give away their milk for free can also donate to one of 15 milk banks registered with the United Kingdom Association for Milk Banking charity , which donates breast milk to premature and sick babies . Other forums for sharing milk include a Facebook group , 'Human Milk 4 Human Babies ' . Bodybuilders wanting to build up their muscles have also become keen consumers of breast milk , while many cancer sufferers have spoken about its benefits in building up their immune systems .
Selling breast milk online is big business in the US , and now increasing numbers of women in the UK are selling their surplus milk . It is often sold more cheaply on the internet than in regulated milk banks . Is bought by mothers who ca n't breastfeed , fetishists and bodybuilders . Experts in the British Medical Journal say buying milk online is risky . Has not been screened for diseases and contains more bacterial growth .