List of Dairy-Free Foods
You may benefit from a list of dairy-free foods if you have a milk allergy, lactose intolerance or a casein-free or vegan lifestyle. Dairy-free products essentially do not contain any milk protein in their ingredients.
You may benefit from a list of dairy-free foods if you have a milk allergy, lactose intolerance or a casein-free or vegan lifestyle. Dairy-free products essentially do not contain any milk protein in their ingredients. If you or a dependent has a milk allergy, it is very important to read food labels carefully every time you shop, since manufacturers can change their ingredients to contain milk. In addition, food labeled "dairy-free" can still contain allergy-causing milk proteins, according to Food Allergy Research and Eduction.
Dairy-free Foods
There are many foods that are not made from milk or do not have milk ingredients. In general, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats, beans, shellfish and fish are all dairy-free. Some processed meats such as deli sausages and kielbasa may have dairy, so check the labels carefully. Soy milk, rice milk, juices, soda, hydrolyzed infant formula, black coffee, wine and pure tea are some types of drinks that do not contain milk.
Dairy Alternatives
Butter, cheese, margarine, ice cream, yogurt, cream and curds are all products made from processing milk. These days, though, there are plenty of dairy products in the market that have dairy-free versions. Start with vegan or soy-based butter, cheese, ice creams and yogurt. Some soy cheeses may contain milk products so read the product labels. Rice-based puddings, frozen juice pops, milk-free sorbet and milk-free chocolates are dairy-free treats you can enjoy.
Cereal, Breads and Baked Goods
For breakfast, cereals containing toasted oats, rice or corn, as well as oatmeal, do not generally contain milk products, however some brands mix their cereals with milk ingredients so check the labels. Some bakeries bake bread, buns, rolls, pretzels, bagels and tortillas without milk, while others do. Most dry noodles and pasta are also milk-free. Most baked goods and mixes for cakes, cookies, brownies, frosting and glazes have milk ingredients, but there are some brands that are dairy-free.
Avoiding Dairy Ingredients
Some products may have the word "milk" in their ingredient list, while others do not list it explicitly, so it is important to be familiar with terms that may indicate the presence of dairy. Other terms for milk ingredients include whey, casein or caseinate, words with "lacto" or "lacta", natural butter flavor, nougat, Recaldent, caramel, custard and curds, notes Go Dairy Free. Coconut butter or cream, milk thistle, shea butter, nut butter, cream of tartar are ingredients that are not made from dairy but do contain the words "butter" or "milk". The FDA requires that the eight top allergens be noted on product labels if that allergen is contained in the food. At the end of the list of ingredients on a food label you will see "Contains," and then after it you will see any of the eight possible allergens. Since milk is one of the top eight, you can scan to the bottom of the label and if it says "Contains: Milk," then you know the product contains dairy.