for hospitals & NICUs
Does the pasteurization method change what donor milk delivers?
When mother's own milk isn't available, the goal is donor milk that's free of pathogens while keeping as much of its protective bioactivity as possible. The pasteurization method impacts how much of that protection is retained, and it's a difference worth understanding.
Two methods dominate the market, and they aren't equivalent.
Holder pasteurization, the method used by The Milk Bank, heats bottled milk to 62.5°C for 30 minutes and then rapidly chills it. It is the standard used by HMBANA-accredited milk banks.
Retort processing creates a shelf-stable product using substantially higher thermal exposure under pressure. The convenience of shelf stability comes with a different impact on immunological and enzymatic components.
the difference, side by side
The Milk Bank's published clinical materials show why processing method matters.
The first table summarizes select bioactive factors in mother's own milk, pasteurized donor human milk and formula. The second summarizes Holder versus shelf-stable research cited by The Milk Bank.
Select immune factors summarized in The Milk Bank Hospital Partner Booklet; the booklet identifies the figure as based on Tully, Jones & Tully (2001).
Holder versus shelf-stable processing
Research summary and values from The Milk Bank Hospital Partner Booklet, citing Meredith-Dennis et al. (2017), Lima et al. (2017) and Lima et al. (2018). Contact us for the hospital booklet.
what it means at the bedside
What each bioactive component does in a premature gut.
Human milk is a biologically active substance containing components that support immune function, gut development and the infant microbiome. The Milk Bank's clinical materials highlight human milk oligosaccharides, lactoferrin, lysozyme and secretory IgA as important examples.
HMOs support beneficial microbial colonization and intestinal barrier maturation. Lactoferrin has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory roles. Lysozyme supports mucosal defense, and secretory IgA is a primary mucosal antibody in human milk.
The clinical question is not only whether pathogens are eliminated, but how much biologic function remains after processing.
for your files
The full comparison, in one page for your team.
A printable summary of Holder versus retort processing and the bioactivity data, formatted to share with your clinical and purchasing committees.
Includes the bioactivity tables and full research references used on this page.
make an informed choice
Ask any supplier how their milk is processed, and what survives it.
Our hospital team can walk you through the evidence and what Holder-pasteurized milk would mean for your unit. It's the same milk banking standard used for the most fragile babies in the country.