This retrospective study compared the rate of feed intolerance in preterm neonates delivered at £ 30 weeks gestation who received pasteurised donor human milk (n = 83) versus preterm formula (n = 41) to meet the deficits in available volumes of mother's own milk in the first 2 weeks of life. Feed intolerance was not higher in neonates who received preterm formula than those who received pasteurized donor human milk (24.4% vs 20%; OR (95% CI) 0.79 (0.30, 2.19) P = 0.619]. Rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, culture positive sepsis and mortality were not significantly different in the two groups. The preterm formula group gained birth weight earlier, although the time needed to attain full feeds was similar in both groups.