Information › Allergies › Milk
Milk allergy and shopping milk-free
A cow's milk allergy is a reaction of the immune system to the proteins in milk (casein and whey). It is not the same as lactose intolerance, which is about milk sugar. With an allergy, all milk protein has to be avoided, traces included.
At a glance
- Kind
- Legal allergen (EU)
- On the label
- In bold in the ingredient list
- Also as
- room, boter, kaas, wei, weipoeder…
- Without milk
- 15.394 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
Recognise
On the label as
- room
- boter
- kaas
- wei
- weipoeder
- weieiwit
- yoghurt
- kwark
- caseïne
- caseïnaat
- karnemelk
- melkpoeder
- Milk is one of the 14 allergens that EU law requires in bold on the label.
- Watch for other names (in Dutch): caseïne, caseïnaat, wei (whey), weipoeder, lactoalbumine, lactoglobuline, melkpoeder, boter (butter), room (cream), karnemelk (buttermilk), kwark, yoghurt, kaas (cheese).
- ‘Lactosevrij’ (lactose-free) does not mean milk-free: lactose-free milk still contains milk protein.
- ‘Kan sporen van melk bevatten’ (may contain traces of milk) warns of cross-contamination in the factory; with a severe allergy it counts.
Shopping
Examples without milk
- Alpro Mild & Creamy naturelAlpro · 755 gDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,89 1+1Jumbo € 2,89PLUS € 2,89Bevat: SojaKan sporen bevatten: Noten
- Chocomel Plant-basedChocomel · 1 lAlbert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99Hoogvliet € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Bevat: Cashewnoot, NotenKan sporen bevatten: Amandel, Hazelnoot, Soja, Walnoot
- Yakult Vitals- StrawberryYakult · 200 mlPLUS € 1,00Dirk € 1,75Jumbo € 1,79Hoogvliet € 1,80Bevat: Soja
- Plantaardige Variatie Op Kwark Zonder SuikersAlpro · 400 gHoogvliet € 2,39Albert Heijn € 2,49Jumbo € 2,49PLUS € 2,49Bevat: SojaKan sporen bevatten: Noten, Pinda's
- Soja kids aardbeiAlpro · 460 gHoogvliet € 2,98Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Bevat: SojaKan sporen bevatten: Noten, Pinda's
- Alpro Variatie op kwark mangoAlpro · 400 gDirk € 2,85Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Bevat: SojaKan sporen bevatten: Noten
All 15.394 products without milk
What to look out for in the shop
- Plant drinks (oat, soy, almond) are milk-free, but check them for other allergens such as soy and nuts.
- Chocolate, biscuits, sauces, cold cuts and bread often contain milk unexpectedly.
- Turn on ‘Also hide “may contain traces of”’ if traces are a risk for you.
Good to know
Recently with milk in the recipe (8)These products recently took milk onto their label: the recipe changed. This is exactly where reading the label matters most.
Cross-contamination and “may contain traces”‘Kan sporen van melk bevatten’ means the product was made on a line that also handles milk.
‘Kan sporen van melk bevatten’ means the product was made on a line that also handles milk. For a mild allergy that is usually no problem; for a severe one it is. Then turn on the option to hide ‘may contain’ as well.
Symptoms and when to see a doctorWith a cow's milk allergy the immune system usually reacts within minutes to two hours: rash, swollen lips or eyes, vomiting or diarrhoea, shortness of breath.
Short of breath, a swelling tongue or throat, or dizzy after eating? Use the adrenaline auto-injector if one has been prescribed and call 112 straight away. Even if it then seems to get better.
With a cow's milk allergy the immune system usually reacts within minutes to two hours: rash, swollen lips or eyes, vomiting or diarrhoea, shortness of breath. In babies it can be slower, with gut trouble and poor growth. With breathing difficulty or a swelling throat: call 112.
Is lactose-free milk suitable with a milk allergy?
No. Lactose-free milk still contains milk protein; only the milk sugar has been broken down. With a milk allergy you need a plant-based alternative.
Is there milk in bread?
Often: milk powder, butter or whey are common in rolls, raisin bread and much sliced bread. Check the ingredient list; ‘melk’ is in bold.
Does a milk allergy go away?
In most children it does, often before the age of four. Whether and when is decided by the paediatrician or allergist with a challenge test, never at home.
What this site does and does not do
We read the ingredient list and the allergen declaration as the supermarket publishes them, and hide every product that contains the allergen. Products without allergen information are hidden by default too: unknown is not the same as safe. What we cannot do is read the pack in the shop. Recipes change, and the information here can lag behind. When in doubt the label in your hand decides, and for questions about your health your doctor or dietitian.
Other allergens
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II: the fourteen allergens that must be on the label.
- The ingredient lists and allergen declarations of Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet, re-read every week.
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