Project information
- Project: Storage of human milk in unfrozen state under high pressure-subzero temperature conditions - new method of preservation (HumMilkPres)
- Beneficiary: Gdańsk University of Technology
- Project partners: none
- Programme: Applied research
- Project coverage: international
- Funding awarded: EUR 191,027.32
- Project period: 28 March 2022 – 1 February 2024
- Project website
How to store human milk?
Breastfeeding is the most recommended form of nutrition for newborns and children up to two years of age, due to the unique properties of human milk. Its quality and quantity are adapted to the needs of developing children and have a positive impact on their health in later life. For premature babies, breastfeeding supports the proper functioning of the digestive and immune systems, minimising the risk of disease. In situations where the mother is unable to breastfeed, the best alternative, especially for premature babies, is to use milk collected from the Human Milk Banks. However, current methods of storing human milk, such as heating at 62.5°C for 30 minutes, have a negative impact on the nutritional and biological value of milk.
That is why the HumMilkPres project focuses on finding innovative preservation methods that ensure microbiological safety while minimising the loss of the nutritional and biological values of milk. The implementation includes the design and construction of a prototype device generating pressure below 0°C for samples of 100-150 ml (average volume of milk donated to banks). In addition, the project will investigate changes in selected nutrients and bioactive ingredients and the degree of microbiota inactivation (inhibition of microbial activity) in milk during storage under high-pressure and low-temperature conditions.
The method developed will minimise the loss of nutrients and bioactive ingredients, which are so important in the first months of the baby’s life.
Examples of effects
- determining the optimum storage conditions for human milk,
- proposing a new procedure for the handling of milk in Human Milk Banks.
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Project manager Dr hab. Eng. Edyta Malinowska-Pańczyk, associate professor of the university (Photo by Krzysztof Krzempek/PG)
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Researchers involved in the project (Photo by Krzysztof Krzempek/PG)
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Female scientists involved in the project – in the laboratory (Photo by Krzysztof Krzempek/PG)