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.
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 |
