TRENTON — Responding to the growing interest in the sharing breast milk with mothers who cannot produce their own, a state Senate committee Monday approved a bill that would regulate distribution and ensure the product's safety in New Jersey,
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee also approved a companion bill that would direct the state Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign on the benefits of breast feeding.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk for the first six months of a baby's life, "followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant."
Both bills were approved by a 13-0 vote. The legislation now moves to the full Senate.
"We know that breast milk provides significant health and nutritional benefits to infants. As a result, the demand for breast milk by mothers who are unable to produce it has increased and breast milk sharing has become increasingly common," Senate Majority Leader and the bills' lead sponsor Loretta Weinberg said in a statement.
"It is important that new mothers are aware of the extraordinary benefits of breastfeeding but also of the facts around casual milk sharing," Weinberg's statement said. "By providing information to the public about casual milk sharing and also regulating milk banks, we will hopefully protect against health hazards and encourage a safer process both for mothers obtaining milk and their babies."
Human milk banks would be licensed and inspected by the state to collect, store and sell breast milk to hospitals, and to parents with a doctor's prescription, according to the regulation bill (S1209). Milk would be available to women who are unable to lactate, need additional milk, or for low-birth weight babies with health issues.
The health department would develop rules to process store and distribute the product, screen potential donors, develop staff qualifications, according to the bill. The health commissioner could halt the milk bank's operation and issue fines if the safety precautions are not followed.
In a study published in the journal Pediatrics in April, researchers from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found 10 percent of the milk they purchased online was "topped off" with cow's milk, which could pose a problem for newborns who are allergic.
Breast milk banks operate in 14 states and Canada, according to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Member milk banks moved more than 3.2 million units of milk in 2013, up from under 500,000 in 2000, the association says.
The committee also approved (S1208) that would require the health department to establish a public awareness campaign to promote breastfeeding. The campaign would also provide facts about informal milk sharing, and the availability of nonprofit human milk banks accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and other organizations.
Both the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Assembly's Women and Children Committee approved the legislation last month.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Tim Darragh contributed to this report.
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee also approved a companion bill that would direct the state Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign on the benefits of breast feeding.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk for the first six months of a baby's life, "followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant."
Both bills were approved by a 13-0 vote. The legislation now moves to the full Senate.
"We know that breast milk provides significant health and nutritional benefits to infants. As a result, the demand for breast milk by mothers who are unable to produce it has increased and breast milk sharing has become increasingly common," Senate Majority Leader and the bills' lead sponsor Loretta Weinberg said in a statement.
"It is important that new mothers are aware of the extraordinary benefits of breastfeeding but also of the facts around casual milk sharing," Weinberg's statement said. "By providing information to the public about casual milk sharing and also regulating milk banks, we will hopefully protect against health hazards and encourage a safer process both for mothers obtaining milk and their babies."
Human milk banks would be licensed and inspected by the state to collect, store and sell breast milk to hospitals, and to parents with a doctor's prescription, according to the regulation bill (S1209). Milk would be available to women who are unable to lactate, need additional milk, or for low-birth weight babies with health issues.
The health department would develop rules to process store and distribute the product, screen potential donors, develop staff qualifications, according to the bill. The health commissioner could halt the milk bank's operation and issue fines if the safety precautions are not followed.
In a study published in the journal Pediatrics in April, researchers from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found 10 percent of the milk they purchased online was "topped off" with cow's milk, which could pose a problem for newborns who are allergic.
Breast milk banks operate in 14 states and Canada, according to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Member milk banks moved more than 3.2 million units of milk in 2013, up from under 500,000 in 2000, the association says.
The committee also approved (S1208) that would require the health department to establish a public awareness campaign to promote breastfeeding. The campaign would also provide facts about informal milk sharing, and the availability of nonprofit human milk banks accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America and other organizations.
Both the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Assembly's Women and Children Committee approved the legislation last month.
NJ Advance Media staff writer Tim Darragh contributed to this report.
