Balearic Milk Bank celebrates 25 years as Spain's first

The Milk Bank of the Balearic Islands, the first of its kind in Spain, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The initiative was founded following observations by pediatrician Sergi Verd during a professional stay in England, where he noted neonatal units using donor breast milk instead of cow-based formulas.

At the end of the 20th century, many hospitals in Spain favored processed cow milk formulas due to the misconception that breast milk was less hygienic. The project was launched in 2000 with the support of Dr. Antoni Gayà, the first technical director of the Balearic Tissue Bank, and was later led by Dr. Javier Calvo, the current technical director. The bank was established to implement proven medical advancements in neonatal care despite a lack of existing institutional support or regulations in Spain at the time.