A new article published in the Federal Health Gazette - Health Research - Health Protection provided a comprehensive overview of possible risks from foreign substances and pathogens present in mothers milk, including harmful ingredients due to medication use, smoking, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, persistent environmental contaminants and residues, as well as infections. The authors discussed that in mothers, in whom drug therapy is indicated, appropriate medications are prescribed such that prolonged nursing breaks or weaning is not required. Nevertheless, long-term treatment, especially under combination therapy, must be examined for each of such cases. Smoking and alcohol consumption should be prohibited during the breastfeeding period while moderate coffee consumption (up to two cups daily) is acceptable. It was stated that current levels of environmental contaminants and residues in breast milk are considered to be harmless to health. Among maternal infections, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the few medical indications for weaning in countries with adequate hygiene standards. Moreover, the risks of xenobiotics and pathogens in mothers milk are generally low in exclusively breastfed infants, thus, there is usually no need for prolonged nursing breaks or weaning. However, in a few maternal conditions (certain medications, HIV infection), the infant should not be breastfed.