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    Home » Resources

    Milk Allergy Avoidance List {Dairy Products List}

    Published: Jan 16, 2020 · Modified: Aug 10, 2022 by Larisha Bernard · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

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    Check out our Milk Allergy Avoidance List to get a full comprehensive dairy products list and see which dairy foods to avoid.

    A bag of pasta with the words Milk Allergy Avoidance List overlayed.

    There are lots of reasons to want to know sources of dairy. But finding a dairy products list isn’t always easy.  

    For some, you may have an extreme allergic reaction to milk, while others may be vegan. Maybe you are lactose intolerant, breastfeeding, or you have a condition like eczema and you’ve heard that giving up dairy may help.  

    No matter the reason that you may have decided to cut dairy out of your diet, you need to know what products contain dairy.

    Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just saying, avoid anything with milk. Although that would be nice, it’s just simply not that easy.

    Not only are there multiple widely known dairy foods, but there are a host of hidden sources of dairy.  

    Some are common and easily identifiable, while others are not.

    WHAT DOES DAIRY FREE MEAN?

    When you are on a dairy free diet it means that you do not consume dairy products of any kind.

    Dairy refers specifically to cow’s milk products.  

    Some people consume other animals’ milks, like goats, for example; however, for labeling purposes, a dairy free diet only refers to cow’s milk.

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    WHAT ARE SOURCES OF DAIRY?

    Obviously if you are going dairy free, you want to know what products you need to avoid.  

    Unfortunately, the answer isn’t exactly easy as there are a lot of hidden dairy ingredients.

    However, some of the most well-known foods on the dairy products list include:

    • milk 
    • butter
    • cheese
    • yogurt
    • cream (heavy cream, sour cream, etc)
    • ice cream
    • whey
    • casein

    If you see these labeled in any way, they are known dairy products and should be avoided.

    An assortment of jars of milk.

    HOW CAN I TELL IF A PRODUCT HAS DAIRY OR HIDDEN DAIRY?

    READ LABELS. READ LABELS. READ LABELS. 

    One cannot emphasize the importance of reading labels enough when on a dairy free diet.

    Due to current US federal FDA laws, items are required to be labeled as  containing milk clearly.

    What that means is that either in the ingredients list or using “Contains: Milk” after the list of ingredients, it must clearly identify dairy.

    If you have a severe milk allergy, you want to also note things labeled as “may contain”. This means that it’s processed in a facility that also produces milk products and cross-contamination may happen and you will want to avoid those products as well. 

    *One important thing to note here is that there is currently no requirement for companies to list “may contain”.

    There are products that do not fall under the FDA allergen labeling laws, and because so, are not going to be labeled as such. 

    Many people assume they can give up the common sources of dairy like milk and cheese and everything else will be okay. However, that’s simply not the case.  

    Milk and milk-based products are added into everything from granola bars to mayonnaise, non-dairy coffee creamers and margarine. Some of the most surprising foods on the dairy products list that have milk that may be shocking include:

    • hot dogs
    • chicken nuggets
    • tomato sauces
    • potato chips
    • Vinaigrette dressing
    • spaghettios 
    • fish sticks
    • chicken broth
    • chewing gum
    • tuna

    This is truly why it’s so important to read labels.  

    Even more important, is to read labels every single time you repurchase something. Unfortunately, brands often change their recipes for products and may add different ingredients. So something that may have once been dairy free may not be dairy free any longer. 

    A pasta nutrition label listing ingredients and nutritional information.

    Does lactose free mean dairy free?

    No. It only means that there is no lactose in it.  It could still contain casein or whey that should also be avoided on a dairy free diet.  This is for people that know they only react to lactose. 

    Does non-dairy mean dairy freei

    No. This is a common occurrence that seems to be popping up more and more. 

    Companies are labeling products, such as creamers and alternative cheeses, like almond cheese or soy cheese, as non-dairy, when in fact they still contain whey or another dairy ingredient. 

    Again it’s why it is so important to read labels. 

    Why do I need to check my medicines?

    This may come as a shock to some, but you actually should double check all your medicines.  Some medicines add whey or lactose to them and due to that are not dairy free medicines.

    You can speak with your pharmacist who should be able to aid in the process of seeing if your particular medications do contain dairy and if so what are some alternatives for you. 

    You’ll also wants to check your cosmetics, personal care, and pet food for sources of dairy, especially if dealing with a milk allergy. We have seen dairy in toothpaste before, especially whitening ones.

    How can pareve labels help me?

    In the most basic of definitions, kosher foods are those prepared according to Jewish laws. There are certain ways that meat and dairy products must be handled in order to be kosher for Jewish consumption.  

    However, even if you are not Jewish, you can benefit from their food requirements.

    Pareve or Parve, refers to foods that contain neither meat or dairy. That means that any food labeled Pareve is dairy free.

    In order to know if something is Pareve, you can look for the symbol K or a circle with a K inside followed by the word Pareve. If there is a D or DE beside the K, then that item contains dairy.  

    It’s important to note that fish is considered Pareve in Jewish law, so if you are vegan, you’ll want to still look at the label for that. 

    Milk Allergy Avoidance List

    So what are all the dairy products list? Brace yourself, but it’s a pretty long list.

    We’ve put all the dairy ingredients in alphabetical order for each section.  To the best of our knowledge these products contain or may contain milk, whether known or as hidden dairy products.  

    This list is not intended as medical advice and should not be treated as such. Please consult with a doctor if you have a dietary condition requiring you to be dairy free.

    In any event, we hope this list help your dairy free diet. 

    Definitely Dairy Products List

    1% milk

    2% milk

    Acidophilus Milk 

    Acid Whey

    Ammonium Caseinate

    Anhydrous Milk Fat

    Artificial Butter

    Artificial Butter Flavor

    Butter 

    Butter Extract

    Butter Fat

    Butter Flavored Oil

    Buttermilk

    Buttermilk Blend

    Buttermilk Powder

    Buttermilk Solids

    Butter Oil

    Butter Soilds

    Calcium Caseinate

    Casein

    Casein Hydrolysates

    Caseinate

    Cheese (all types)

    Cheese Flavor (artificial and natural)

    Cheese Food

    Chocolate

    Condensed Milk

    Cottage Cheese

    Cream

    Cream Cheese

    Cultured Milk

    Curds

    Curd Whey

    Custard

    Dairy Butter

    Dairy Product Solids

    Delactosed Whey

    Demineralized Why

    Derivative Milk

    Dried Milk

    Dry Milk

    Dry Milk Powder

    Dry Milk Solids (DMS)

    Evaporated Milk

    Fat Free Milk 

    Fully Cream Milk Powder

    Galactose

    Ghee

    Goat Cheese

    Goast Milk

    Half & Half

    Hydrolyzed Casein

    Hydrolyzed Whey

    Ice Cream 

    Ice Milk

    Imitation Cheese

    Imitation Sour Cream

    Iron Caseinate

    Kefir

    Kourmiss

    Lactaid Milk

    Lactalbumin

    Lactalbumin phosphate

    Lactate solids

    Lactitol Monohyrdrate

    Lactoferrin

    Lactoglobulin

    Lactose

    Lactose Free Milk

    Lactulose

    Lactyc Yeast

    Low Fat Milk

    Malted Milk

    Milk

    Milk Derivative

    Milk Fat

    Milk Powder

    Milk Protein

    Milk Protein Hydrolysates

    Milk Solid Pastes

    Milk Solids

    Natural Butter

    Natural Butter Flavor

    Nisin Preparation

    Nonfat Dry Milk

    Nonfat Milk

    Nonfat Milk Solids

    Nougat

    Paneer

    Pasteurized Milk

    Potassium Caseinate

    Powdered Milk

    Powdered Whey

    Protein Hydrolysates

    Pudding

    Quark

    Recaldent

    Reduced Mineral Whey

    Rennet

    Rennet Casein

    Sheep Milk

    Sheep Milk Cheese

    Sherbet

    Skim Milk

    Skim Milk Powder

    Sodium Caseinate

    Sour Cream

    Sour Cream Solids

    Sour Milk

    Sour Milk Solids

    Sweet Cream

    Sweet Cream Buttermilk Powder

    Sweet Dairy Whey

    Sweetened Condensed Milk

    Sweetened Condensed Skim Milk

    Vegetarian Cheese with Casein

    Whey

    Whey Hydrolysates

    Whey Powder

    Whey Protein

    Whey Protein Concentrate

    Whey Protein Hydrolysates

    Whey Solids

    Whipped Butter

    Whipped Cream

    Whole Milk

    Yogurt (regular or frozen)

    Yogurt Powder

    Zinc Caseinate

    An aisle of food at a grocery store.

    May Be Dairy Products List

    Artificial Flavorings

    Caramel Flavoring

    Chocolate

    Flavoring

    Galactose

    High Protein Flour

    Hot Dogs

    Lactic Acid

    Lactobacillus

    Lunch Meat

    Margarine

    Natural Flavoring

    Prebiotics

    Rice Cheese

    Simplesse

    Sausage

    Soy Cheese

    Starter Distillate

    Surprising Foods that should always be Dairy Free 

    Almond Butter

    Almond Milk

    Apple Butter

    Calcium Carbonate

    Calcium Citrate

    Cashew Milk

    Cashew Butter

    Cocoa Butter

    Cocoa Powder

    Coconut Butter

    Coconut Cream

    Coconut Milk

    Cream of Tartar

    Fruit Butters (Apple, Pumpkin, etc)

    Lecithin Oleoresin

    Malted Barley

    Malt Liquor

    Malt Vinegar

    Milk Thistle

    Peanut Butter

    Nut Butters

    Nut Milk

    Shea Butter

    Soy Milk

    As always, you should absolutely check every single label before purchasing a product. This list is just a starting point and should not be taken as a replacement for medical advise.  

    If you have any specific questions about any products or ingredients, please consult with your primary care physician . 

    An assortment of vegan mozzarella cheese packages.

    What are resources that could help me?

    We know that going dairy free can be really hard in the beginning until you get used to what to do. Luckily, in addition to this dairy products list, we have some resources that can help you. 

    • 10 Tips for Going Dairy Free
    • Dairy Free Candy Guide
    • Dairy Free Fast Food Guide
    • Best Dairy Free Yogurt 
    • Which Dairy Free Cheese Tastes Best?
    • Best Sliced Dairy Free cheese for Grilled Cheese
    • Dairy Free Substitutes 
    • Plant Based Calcium Sources

    Pin this Milk Allergy Avoidance List for later

    The words Milk allergy avoidance list overlayed onto a bag of pasta.

    This post was original published on 10/31/2018 and updated on 1/16/2020. 

    More Resources

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      Vitalite Vegan Cheese Review + Taste Test
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      Plant-Based Hershey Bars Review (Taste Test)
    • Beyond Chicken Review + Taste Test
    • three packages of meati foods mushroom root protein.
      Meati Foods Mushroom Root Protein Review (Taste Test)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fitness bee

      October 07, 2021 at 7:41 am

      Your content is amazing, helped me a lot.

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        October 07, 2021 at 2:21 pm

        Glad to hear that!

        Reply
    2. Lynnwood Powell

      April 25, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      Your list has helped e. Thanks so much for making it available. There are things I never dreamed would contain milk, such as some onion powder, some cinnamon powder. I even purchased some frozen vegetable and found them to contain milk.

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        April 27, 2021 at 10:38 am

        So glad you found it helpful

        Reply
    3. Natalie

      February 15, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      this helps so much

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        February 24, 2021 at 2:32 pm

        So glad you’ve found it helpful

        Reply
    4. Mrs David rich

      January 06, 2021 at 11:55 am

      Wow👎🏽 Hot dogs? Who knew???

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        January 06, 2021 at 7:57 pm

        so many things!

        Reply
    5. john yates

      October 09, 2020 at 8:43 am

      thank you indeed

      Reply
    6. Mary knutson

      July 24, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      Thanks so much..
      Has helped me tremendously what to look for..

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        July 28, 2020 at 9:38 pm

        You’re so welcome

        Reply
    7. Zee

      February 15, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      Thank you so much! This helps a ton and relieves a lot of stress for baby and I.

      Reply
      • LarishaCampbell

        February 15, 2020 at 9:47 pm

        Happy to help!

        Reply

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