Mothers Milk Cooperative

Mothers Milk Cooperative was the first donor-owned milk bank cooperative, established to provide human milk to hospitals and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The organization operated on a model where donor mothers were members of the cooperative and received financial compensation for their milk, which was then processed for clinical use. Its primary mission was to address the shortage of human milk for premature infants to prevent conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis. The cooperative worked closely with processing partners to ensure the safety and quality of the milk supplied to NICUs. Despite its innovative model, the company faced ethical debates regarding the commercialization of breast milk and the impact on breastfeeding rates. The organization is currently inactive and no longer accepting donations or supplying milk.