Dietary aroma transfer into human milk has been studied in many scenarios, including direct transmission and biotransformation. This perspective highlights recent research that focuses on the latter, with examples given in relation to 1,8-cineole and garlic-derived odorants. Three future directions are discussed, comprising (a) achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the chemical and physiological basis of aroma transfer into milk via pharmacological methods, advanced analytical techniques, and ecologically valid study designs, (b) assessing the bioactivity of odorants and their metabolites present in milk that are ingested by the infant, and (c) translating the insights gained on aroma transmission in relation to taste attributes and bioactive components of the maternal diet.
Keywords: 1,8-cineole; aroma transfer; breastfeeding; garlic; human milk; odorant metabolism.