We Get Asked "Is It Safe?" A Lot. Here Are Our Honest Answers.

Safety questions are the first thing we encourage mummies to ask — about us and about any service they're considering for their breastmilk. Here are the questions we receive most often, answered the way we answer them directly: honestly, with the nuance included.

Does freeze-drying damage the nutrients?

Not significantly, when done correctly in a controlled environment. Research comparing breastmilk preservation methods has found that lyophilisation retains major nutrients — proteins, fats, most vitamins and minerals — more effectively than most other long-term storage methods. This is because the process uses cold and vacuum pressure rather than heat. The heat-sensitive components of your milk are not disrupted the way they would be during pasteurisation or high-temperature processing.

What about antibodies and immune factors?

Most immunoglobulins and antibodies in breastmilk survive the freeze-drying process well. Some live cells — certain white blood cells, for example — are present at slightly higher levels in fresh or freshly-frozen milk. This is worth knowing if your baby has specific medical needs, particularly premature or medically fragile infants. For those situations, we always recommend discussing storage methods with your paediatrician or neonatologist before making a decision.

For healthy, full-term babies, freeze-dried breastmilk from our certified lab continues to deliver strong nutritional and immune support.

Does freeze-drying sterilise the milk?

No — and we think it's important to say this clearly. Freeze-drying is a preservation method, not a sterilisation method. It does not kill bacteria. If bacteria were present in your milk before processing, they would remain in the powder in a dormant state.

This is why the quality of your milk before it arrives matters — hygienic expression and proper storage according to HPB guidelines are your part of the process. And it's why our lab conditions matter. Our ISO 13485-certified facility, ISO Class 6 clean booth, single-use trays, and autoclaved equipment are specifically designed to ensure nothing is introduced during our processing.

Will my milk get mixed with another mummy's?

Never. We process each mother's batch individually and completely separately. Your returned pouches carry your name and batch details. This is a non-negotiable part of how we operate — there is no scenario in which your milk contacts another mummy's milk.

Will my baby accept it?

Most do, without difficulty. There can be a slight difference in flavour compared to fresh milk, though many mummies with high lipase activity actually find that freeze-dried milk is better accepted by their babies than frozen milk — because the soapy taste issue is reduced when the water (and therefore the medium for continued lipase activity) is removed.

If your baby is initially hesitant, try mixing a small amount of freeze-dried milk with fresh milk at first, then gradually shifting the ratio.

How long has this technology existed?

Lyophilised human milk has been used in hospital milk banks and clinical research settings since the 1950s. The consumer service version is more recent — LyoBB launched in Singapore in 2023, making us the first ISO-certified lab in the country offering this service. We've since worked with over 1,500 Singapore mummies.

The science is established. The application to individual families is newer. We take that responsibility seriously.

Questions we haven't answered here? We're at +65 8802 1996 on WhatsApp.