After thawing frozen breast milk, there's a yellow layer on top—can it still be consumed?
Sep 20, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
The yellow layer on top of thawed frozen breast milk is safe to drink, but if the milk has been frozen for too long, it is not recommended for consumption. When storing and thawing breast milk, it's important to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination. Thawed breast milk should be consumed as soon as possible to ensure its freshness and nutritional value. Fat is one of the essential nutrients required for infant growth.
In general, it is safe to consume thawed frozen breast milk that has a yellow layer on top. The details are as follows:
Breast milk contains abundant fat, which may coagulate or separate during freezing and form a visible yellow layer after thawing. Fat is one of the essential nutrients required for infant growth, helping provide energy, support brain development, and maintain body temperature. As long as the breast milk has been handled hygienically during freezing and thawing without contamination, the thawed milk—including the yellow fatty layer—is safe for consumption. However, prolonged freezing may lead to nutrient loss and increase the risk of bacterial contamination. Therefore, to ensure the quality and safety of breast milk, it is recommended to follow appropriate freezing and thawing time guidelines and avoid long-term storage.
When storing and thawing breast milk, always maintain hygiene to prevent contamination. Thawed breast milk should be consumed as soon as possible to preserve its freshness and nutritional value.
