Which foods contain lactose?
Find a list of foods and ingredients which may contain lactose below. First, let’s have a quick primer on lactose, lactose-free, and dairy-free.
What is lactose?
Lactose is a type of simple sugar and a FODMAP found naturally in milk and milk products. It’s broken down by an enzyme called lactase. Some people do not naturally produce lactase; this results in an inability to digest lactose (also known as lactose intolerance).
What are lactose-free foods?
Lactose-free products are made from dairy (animal milk) but have the lactase enzyme added to break down lactose. These products are safe for people with lactose intolerance.
What is the difference between lactose-free and dairy-free?
Dairy-free products are not made from dairy (animal milk). This means they do not contain lactose (a milk sugar) or whey/casein (milk proteins). With that being said, always read labels, especially if you have a milk allergy. Products labeled “Non-dairy” and “Dairy-free” may still legally include milk proteins like casein in the USA.
Foods with lactose
| Ingredient | Likely lactose content |
|---|---|
| asadero cheese | Asadero Cheese may not be lactose free. Asadero cheese is made from milk. |
| asiago | Asiago may not be lactose free. Asiago is a cheese made from milk. |
| beta-lactoglobulin | Beta-Lactoglobulin may not be lactose free. Beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) is the whey protein found in cow and sheep milk. |
| blue cheese | Blue Cheese may not be lactose free. Blue cheese is made from milk. |
| buttermilk | Buttermilk is not lactose free. Buttermilk is a fermented beverage made from milk. |
| casein | Casein may not be lactose free. |
| cheese | Cheese may not be lactose free. Cheese is generally made from milk unless otherwise noted. |
| cheese curd | Cheese Curd may not be lactose free. Cheese Curd is made from milk. |
| cheese seasoning | Cheese Seasoning may not be lactose free. Cheese Seasoning is made from milk. |
| chocolate | Chocolate may not be lactose free. Milk chocolate and white chocolate almost always contain milk; however, some dark chocolates are made without milk. Read ingredient and allergen labels carefully and look for brands labeled dairy-free or vegan specifically. |
| condensed milk | Condensed Milk is not lactose free. Condensed Milk is made from milk. |
| cottage cheese | Cottage Cheese may not be lactose free. Cottage Cheese is made from milk. |
| cream | Cream is not lactose free. Cream is made from milk. |
| cream cheese | Cream Cheese may not be lactose free. Cream Cheese is made from milk. |
| dairy | Dairy may not be lactose free. |
| dark chocolate | Dark Chocolate may not be lactose free. Dark chocolate may not include milk ingredients; check the ingredient and allergen statements carefully or look for brands labeled as dairy-free. Milk chocolate and white chocolate almost always contain milk unless labeled dairy-free. |
| dry milk | Dry Milk is not lactose free. |
| edam | Edam may not be lactose free. Edam is made from milk. |
| eggnog | Eggnog may not be lactose free. Eggnog is traditionally made with milk and eggs. |
| evaporated milk | Evaporated Milk is not lactose free. Evaporated Milk is made from milk. |
| fontina cheese | Fontina Cheese may not be lactose free. Fontina Cheese is made from milk. |
| goat cheese | Goat Cheese may not be lactose free. Goat cheese is made from milk. Fontina Cheese may contain lactose. |
| goat milk | Goat Milk is not lactose free. Goat Milk is made from milk sources. |
| gorgonzola | Gorgonzola may not be lactose free. Gorgonzola cheese is made from milk. |
| gouda | Gouda may not be lactose free. Gouda cheese is made from milk. |
| haloumi | Haloumi may not be lactose free. Haloumi cheese is made from milk. |
| jarlsberg | Jarlsberg may not be lactose free. Jarlsberg cheese is made from milk. |
| kasseri cheese | Kasseri Cheese may not be lactose free. Kasseri Cheese is made from milk. |
| kefir | Kefir may not be lactose free. Kefir is a fermented beverage created from milk sources. |
| lactalbumin | Lactalbumin may not be lactose free. |
| lactose | Lactose is not lactose free. Lactose, the sugar found in cow's milk, may not be lactose-free. |
| lactulose | Lactulose is not lactose free. Lactulose is a synthetic sugar made from lactose, the sugar found in cow's milk. It may not be lactose-free. |
| low fat milk | Low Fat Milk is not lactose free. |
| low fat yogurt | Low Fat Yogurt may not be lactose free. Low fat yogurt is generally made from milk sources. |
| malted milk | Malted Milk is not lactose free. Malted Milk is made from milk. |
| mascarpone | Mascarpone may not be lactose free. Mascarpone cheese is made from milk. |
| milk | Milk is not lactose free. Animal milk (cow's milk, sheep's milk) contains lactose. |
| milk chocolate | Milk Chocolate may not be lactose free. Milk chocolate almost always contains milk which may not be lactose-free. Read ingredient and allergen labels carefully or look specifically for dairy free versions. Dark chocolate is more commonly dairy-free. |
| milk powder | Milk Powder is not lactose free. Milk powder comes from milk. |
| milk protein concentrate | Milk Protein Concentrate is not lactose free. Milk Protein Concentrate comes from milk and is not dairy free. |
| milk solids | Milk Solids are not lactose free. Milk Solids come from milk and is not dairy free. |
| milk sugar | Milk Sugar is not lactose free. Milk sugar comes from milk. |
| muenster | Muenster may not be lactose free. Muenster cheese is made from milk. |
| neufchatel | Neufchatel may not be lactose free. Neufchatel cheese is made from milk. |
| nisin preparation | Nisin Preparation may not be lactose free. Nisin Preparation is a preservative often created using milk. |
| oaxaca cheese | Oaxaca Cheese may not be lactose free. Oaxaca Cheese is made from milk. |
| paneer | Paneer may not be lactose free. Paneer cheese is made from milk. |
| pimento cheese | Pimento Cheese may not be lactose free. Pimento Cheese is made from milk. |
| prebiotic fiber | Prebiotic Fiber is not lactose free. Prebiotic fiber could consist of multiple source ingredients like galacto-oligosaccharides, lactosucrose, lactulose and lactitol. |
| provolone cheese | Provolone Cheese may not be lactose free. Provolone Cheese is made from milk. |
| quark cheese | Quark Cheese may not be lactose free. Quark Cheese is made from milk. |
| queso fresco | Queso Fresco may not be lactose free. Queso Fresco cheese is made from milk. |
| ricotta | Ricotta may not be lactose free. Ricotta cheese is made from milk. |
| roquefort cheese | Roquefort Cheese may not be lactose free. Roquefort Cheese is made from milk. |
| sheep cheese | Sheep Cheese may not be lactose free. Sheep Cheese is made from milk. |
| sheep milk | Sheep Milk is not lactose free. Sheep Milk is made from milk. |
| skim milk | Skim Milk is not lactose free. Skim Milk is made from milk. |
| skim milk powder | Skim Milk Powder is not lactose free. Skim Milk Powder is made from milk. |
| sour cream | Sour Cream is not lactose free. Sour Cream is made from milk. |
| unsweetened chocolate | Unsweetened Chocolate may not be lactose free. Unsweetened chocolate MAY contain milk. Please check the ingredient list carefully. |
| whey | Whey may not be lactose free. Whey is a protein found in milk. |
| whey peptides | Whey Peptides may not be lactose free. Whey peptides, or peptide proteins found in milk, are not dairy-free. |
| whey protein concentrate | Whey Protein Concentrate may not be lactose free. Whey is a protein found in milk. |
| whey solids | Whey Solids are not lactose free. Whey is a protein found in milk. |
| white chocolate | White Chocolate may not be lactose free. White chocolate is typically made with milk. However, look for dairy free or vegan versions. |
| whole milk | Whole Milk is not lactose free. |
| whole milk powder | Whole Milk Powder is not lactose free. Whole milk powder may not be lactose-free. |
| whole milk solids | Whole Milk Solids are not lactose free. Whole Milk Solids are made from milk and are not dairy-free. |
| yogurt | Yogurt may not be lactose free. Yogurt is generally made from milk and is not dairy free; however, look for labeled dairy free or vegan versions made from non-dairy milks like oat milk and almond milk. |