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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Foods that are not regulated by the FDA
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Cosmetics and personal care items
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Prescription and over-the-counter medicines and supplements
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Pet foods
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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.
| Foods | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Beverages | Carbonated drinks Coffee Tea Soy substitute-milk formulas, water Fruit drinks | All milks (whole, low-fat, skim, buttermilk, evaporated, condensed, powdered, hot cocoa) Yogurt, eggnog, milkshakes, malts All drinks made with milk or milk products |
| Breads | Milk-free breads French bread (water-based) Wheat, white, rye, corn, graham, gluten, and soy breads made without milk or milk products Graham crackers or rice wafers | Wheat, white, or rye breads Biscuits, donuts, muffins, pancakes, waffles, zwieback, crackers, saltines, rusk Most commercially made breads and rolls contain milk or milk products French toast made with milk |
| Cereals | Any cereal that does not have added milk or milk products | High-protein cereals Prepared and precooked cereals with milk solids, casein, or other milk products added |
| Desserts | Meringue, gelatin, ice pops, fruit ice, fruit whip, angel food cake Cakes, cookies, and pie crusts made without milk or milk products | Cake, cookies, custard, pudding, cream desserts, or sherbet containing milk products Ice cream, cream pie Pastries brushed with milk, junket, popover |
| Eggs | Prepared without milk | Scrambled with milk, creamed eggs, egg substitutes |
| Fats | Vegetable oil, meat fat, lard, bacon, shortening, milk-free gravy Peanut butter (made without milk solids) Margarine without milk solids Kosher margarine | Butter, cream, margarine Salad dressing or mayonnaise containing milk, milk solids, or milk products Some butter substitutes and nondairy creamers |
| Fruits | Fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and juices | Any served with milk, butter, or cream |
| Meats, fish, poultry, and cheese | Baked, broiled, boiled, roasted or fried: beef, veal, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, organ meats, or tofu (prepared without milk or milk products) Sausage, deli or lunch meats, or ham if made without milk products A small number of people with cow's milk allergy may develop a reaction to beef. People with cow's milk allergy should be careful when having beef or foods containing beef. | All cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese Some sausage products, bologna, hot dogs Breaded meats, meatloaf, croquettes, casseroles, hamburgers (unless made without milk) Commercial entrees made with milk or milk solids |
| Potatoes and substitutes | Macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, rice White or sweet potatoes made without milk, butter, cream, or allowed margarine | Au gratin, buttered, creamed, scalloped potato, or substitutes Macaroni and cheese Mashed potatoes made with milk or butter Frozen French fries sprayed with lactose |
| Soups | Bouillon, broth, consommé, or soups with broth base plain or with all allowed foods | Bisques, chowders, creamed soups All soups made with milk or milk products |
| Sweets | Corn syrup, honey, jam, jelly Hard candy, candy made without milk or milk products Granulated, brown or powdered sugar | Candy made with milk, such as chocolate, fudge, caramels, nougat |
| Vegetables | All fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables without milk or milk products added All vegetable juices | Au gratin, buttered, creamed, or scalloped vegetables Batter and dipped vegetables Vegetable souffles |
| Miscellaneous | Ketchup, olives, pickles, nuts, herbs, chili powder, salt, spices, condiments Any foods that have no milk, cheese, or butter. Also foods that don't have powdered milk or whey. | All items containing milk, cheese, butter, whey casein, caseinates, hydrolysates, lactose, lactalbumin, lactoglobulin, milk solids, or artificial butter flavor Nondairy substitutes containing caseinate |
How to read a label for a milk-free diet
Don't have foods that contain any of the following ingredients:
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Artificial butter flavor
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Butter, butter fat
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Buttermilk
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Casein
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Caseinates (ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium)
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Cheese, cottage cheese, curds
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Cream
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Custard, pudding
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Ghee
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Half-and-half (a blend of whole milk and light cream)
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Hydrolysates (casein, milk protein, protein, whey, whey protein)
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Lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate
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Lactoglobulin
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Lactose
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Lactoferrin
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Milk (derivative, protein, solids, malted, condensed, evaporated, dry, whole, low-fat, nonfat, skim)
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Nougat
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Pudding
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Rennet casein
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Sour cream
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Sour cream solids
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Whey (delactosed, demineralized, protein concentrate)
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Yogurt
Other possible sources of milk or milk products
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Brown sugar flavoring
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Caramel candies
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Caramel flavoring
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Chocolate
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High-protein flour
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Lunch meats, hot dogs, sausages
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Margarine
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Natural flavoring
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Milk-based fat substitutes
Medical Reviewers:
- Deborah Pedersen MD
- Jessica Gotwals BSN MPH
- Marianne Fraser MSN RN
