I have heard that there are chemicals in breast milk. Is this true and are they harmful?


Yes, it is true that some fat-soluble chemicals such as dioxins are present in breast milk. It is also true that toxins found in breast milk are different from the toxins found in formula milk. So far there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that these chemicals are harmful to a breastfed baby. And to suggest that women should not breastfeed because of the presence of contaminants in her milk makes very little sense. Studies consistently show that breastfed babies have better immune systems than formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies are also at a lower risk of developing cancer than their counterparts. So exposure to pollutants found in breast milk poses very little harm if any to the baby and a mother should continue to breastfeed