General guidelines for milk allergy

When your child has a food allergy, they must follow an allergy-free diet. This means your child can't have the food they are allergic to or any products containing that food. The items that your child is allergic to are called allergens.

A milk allergy is the body's abnormal response to the proteins found in cow's milk. Milk allergy is most common among infants and young children. As they get older, many children will outgrow a milk allergy. Milk and milk products are found in many foods. People often think of milk as an ingredient in cream, cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt. Milk and milk products may also be hidden sources in commonly eaten foods. To stay away from foods that contain milk products, you must read all food labels.

Milk is an important source of calcium. Your child needs calcium for healthy bones, teeth, and nerves. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about foods with calcium that you can give to your child. Some examples are green leafy vegetables, orange juice with calcium added, figs, tofu, and dried beans.

Important information about not consuming milk and milk products

• The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) is a law that requires food products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to state clearly on the label if they contain milk.

• The word "nondairy" on a product label means it does not contain butter, cream, or milk. But the product may have other milk-containing ingredients.

• The word "lactose-free" on a product label does not mean dairy-free. The product may still have milk or milk products. Always read the whole label to be sure.

• Kosher food labeled "pareve" or "parve" almost always means that the food is free of milk and milk products. A "D" on a product label next to the circled "K" or "U" means there is milk protein. Don't use these products.

• Foods that don't contain milk could be contaminated during manufacturing. Advisory statements are not regulated by the FDA. They are voluntary. These include labels such as "processed in a facility that also processed milk" or "made on shared equipment." Ask your healthcare provider if you can eat foods with these labels. Or you may need to stay away from them. Some foods and products are not covered by the FALCPA law. These include:

  • Foods that are not regulated by the FDA

  • Cosmetics and personal care items

  • Prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements

  • Pet foods

• Processed meats often contain milk or are processed on milk-containing lines. This includes hot dogs, sausages, and lunch meats.

The lists below may not include all products that could contain milk. But they can help guide your food decisions. It is up to you to carefully read all food labels.

How to read a label for a milk-free diet

Don't have foods that contain any of the following ingredients:

• Artificial butter flavor

• Butter, butter fat

• Buttermilk

• Casein

• Caseinates (ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium)

• Cheese, cottage cheese, curds

• Cream

• Custard, pudding

• Ghee

• Half-and-half (a blend of whole milk and light cream)

• Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, whey protein)

• Lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate

• Lactoglobulin

• Lactose

• Lactoferrin

• Milk (derivative, protein, solids, malted, condensed, evaporated, dry, whole, low-fat, nonfat, skim)

• Nougat

• Pudding

• Rennet casein

• Sour cream

• Sour cream solids

• Whey (delactosed, demineralized, protein concentrate)

• Yogurt

Other possible sources of milk or milk products

• Brown sugar flavoring

• Caramel candies

• Caramel flavoring

• Chocolate

• High-protein flour

• Lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages 

• Margarine

• Natural flavoring

• Milk-based fat substitutes