How to read a label for a MILK-FREE DIET.

I am often asked "Is there milk in that" or "How do you know if your child can have that?"  The list is long and needs to be reviewed often.  Milk seems to show up in the most unsuspecting places, like bubble gum, crackers, breads, juices, cereals, meats, soaps and the list goes on.  Parents of children with a milk allergy or any allergy for that matter, find themselves reading every food label not once but several times, and sometimes backwards, to make sure they don't miss anything.  Since the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 came into effect on January 1, 2006, reading labels became a little easier.  The law requires that manufacturers clearly identify on their food labels if the product contains an ingredient from any of the eight major food allergens.  However, the list can be daunting.  For a reference, I keep a list in my handbag and in the kitchen of what foods contain milk and what ingredients need to be avoided.

Even after ten years, I find myself often referring to this list.  This list comes from The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

Avoid foods that contain milk or any of these ingredients:

butter, butter fat, butter oil, butter acid, butter ester(s)
buttermilk
casein
casein hydrolysate
caseinates (in all forms)
cheese
cottage cheese
cream
curds
custard
diacetyl
ghee
half-and-half
lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate
lactoferrin
lactose
lactulose
milk (in all forms, including condensed, derivative, dry, evaporated, goat's milk and milk from other animals, low-fat, malted, milkfat, nonfat, powder, protein, skimmed, solids, whole)
milk protein hydrolysate
pudding
Recaldent
rennet casein
sour cream, sour cream solids
sour milk solids
tagatose
whey (in all forms)
whey protein hydrolysate
yogurt

Milk may also be found in the following:

artificial butter flavor
baked goods
caramel candies
chocolate
lactic acid starter culture and other bacterial cultures
luncheon meat, hot dogs, sausages
margarine
nisin
nondairy products
nougat

This list is available on a wallet-sized plastic card that can be ordered from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.