Breastfeeding and the Working Mother: Effect of Time and Temperature of Short-term Storage on Proteolysis, Lipolysis, and Bacterial Growth in Milk

Abstract

Storage of human milk is safe at 15 degrees C for 24 hours, whereas at 25 degrees C it is safe for 4 hours. Milk should not be stored at 38 degrees C. Minimal proteolysis during storage suggests that milk proteins probably maintain their structure and function during short-term storage, while the marked lipolysis might slow bacterial growth during this time.